Nye County Amateur Championship Report: Net Goes to Playoff
More exciting SNGA golf action took place during the 2018 Nye County Amateur Championship on April 21-22, 2018. The tournament was held at Mountain Falls Golf Club in Pahrump. Ed Fryatt (Championship), Todd Roberts (Senior) and Kevin Parrish (Silver) all have multiple wins in 2018. Nate Ross beat Mark Cox in a three-hole playoff to win the Net Division. Don Blanton won Senior Net and Mark Dopheide won Silver Net. — By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
Championship
Fryatt’s win, his third in 2018, came as he was the only player to finish the tournament under-par. His 72-69-141 total was good enough for a six-stroke victory.
“I just played pretty solid,” Fryatt said. “I saw how guys were struggling a little over the last two days around the greens and putting and I told myself to find whatever club I could hit firm and play to the middle of the greens.”
Mission accomplished…for the most part.
“I chunked one into the water on No. 9 and that was kind of a shock to the system,” he said. “But I managed to make about a 15-footer to save par and that settled me back down.”
He wound up the round with birdies on 17 and 18 to close out the three-under-par round.
“I always scoreboard watch so I knew I was a couple ahead through 12,” Fryatt said. “And when I birdied the last two I felt much better about the round.”
He said playing in SNGA events is a great way for players to work on their game.
“I got some great advice from Brady (Exber),” he said. “He said to use these events as a training ground. If you’re working on techniques, put them in play in events like these. Sure I want to win, but putting techniques into play under the gun will let you see how they work.”
Championship
Ed Fryatt, 72-69—141
Dylan Fritz, 74-73—147
Greg Whittemore, 75-72—147
Net
Nate Ross beat Mark Cox in a three-hole playoff to win the Net Division. Both finished tied with 151 totals for the two rounds.
For Ross, it was his second straight victory in the Net Division following three straight runnerup finishes, two in 2018 and one to end his play in 2017.
“Today did not go well but it went good enough for me to win,” Ross said. “I probably had seven of eight holes where I three-putted. I just couldn’t get anything to drop.”
Despite the putting problems, Ross got into the three-hole playoff and played the three holes in one-under with a birdie on the third hole.
“I certainly didn’t play the way I planned to play, but I managed to play well enough to win,” he said.
Net
Nate Ross, 72-79—151
Mark Cox, 73-78—151
Daniel Rinaldi, 77-75—152
Senior
Todd Roberts won his third Senior Division title of 2018 (two gross and one net) with a five-stroke victory at Mountain Falls.
Roberts fired a five-over-par 77 in the second round but still coasted to the win. He said despite the five-over-par round, he was ecstatic.
“I played outstanding today,” he said. “I hit 15 greens today but missed eight putts inside eight feet including a couple inside two feet. I had just one one-putt and that was from 10 inches.”
Despite the putting woes, his sense of humor was intact.”My ball-striking carried me,” he said. “It’s probably the best I’ve hit it in five years and the worst I’ve ever putted.”
Senior
Todd Roberts, 72-77-149
David Koch, 75-79—154
Tim Dugan, 79-78—157
Senior Net
Don Blanton, the Senior Net Player of the Year in 2017, got back in the winner’s circle in 2018 with a four-stroke victory.
“I’m proud and I’m feeling pretty good,” Blanton said. “I’ve been working hard. I’m a high handicapper. I was a 22 and now I’m a 16. My goal is to get down to a 12.”
To that end, his practice focus has been picking up, especially around the green. “I putt and hit pitching wedges from 100 yards every day,” he said. “And the putting is starting to pay off. I’ve really sucked so far this year. I’m averaging 40 to 42 putts per round. It got to the point where people were pained to watch me.”
Now, it’s changed. “I was shown a style that works for me and it’s showing,” he said. “I expect to keep playing better as the year goes on.”
Senior Net
Don Blanton, 72-71—143
Luis Morais, 75-72—147
Mike Pearson, 68-82—150
Silver
Kevin Parrish won his second Silver Division title of 2018, beating Frank Abbott and Ed Thiele by two strokes.
“As soon as I turned 60 I apparently started playing some good golf,” Parrish said with a laugh. “I played really well (Saturday) and shot a 2-under 70. I struggled early today with a couple of double bogeys on the front but got it straightened out on the back. Overall I had three nines of very consistent golf.”
He said his play off the tee and on the greens were the key. “I drove the ball really well and putted pretty well,” he said. “Those two things can make up for a lot of other things not going so well.”
He said playing in SNGA events suits him. “It’s just a lot of fun to be out playing with these guys,” he said.
Silver
Kevin Parrish, 70-77—147
Frank Abbott, 76-73—149
Ed Thiele, 74-75—149
Silver Net
Mark Dopheide made his return to SNGA action after a 15-year absence with a victory in the Silver Net Division.
Dopheide, who spends his weeks traveling in sales for a gaming company, said he spends his Sundays with his wife and family. But this weekend his wife visited her sister out of state.
“Hey, all of a sudden I have a free weekend to golf,” he said.
He made the most of it. “I played very well,” he said of his three-stroke victory. “I’m a little shocked, a little surprised and very happy. It was just a lot of fun. I used to play in them and then stopped. I’ll probably play in more of them now.”
Over the two days, he said his game plan was simple. “I just wanted to keep the ball in play,” he said. “I didn’t putt that great but I stayed away from the big numbers. It’s amazing how much of a difference that makes in your score.”
Silver Net
Mark Dopheide, 72-68—140
Walter Sabati, 74-69—143
Al Kueker, 71-75—146
