Isoda, Shreve, Turk, Coss, Rada, Huseby Win Cascata Titles
LAS VEGAS, NV (Aug. 16, 2020)–Jett Isoda (Championship), Jed Shreve (Senior) and John Turk (Silver) won gross titles at the 2020 Cascata Amateur held Aug. 15-16, 2020, at Cascata. Trevor Coss (Net), Joe Rada (Senior) and Phil Huseby (Silver) captured net titles.–by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff
The event used a modified Stableford scoring format and awarded points for double eagles (8 points), eagles (5 points), birdies (3 points) and pars (1 point). Players received zero points for a bogey while double bogeys or worse cost players two points.
Championship
Jett Isoda put six birdies on the board in Sunday’s final round and raced to a six-shot victory. It was Isoda’s first SNGA victory.
For the two days, Isoda lost only two points. His final day included a 25-point total.
“It feels good,” he said. “It’s been awhile since I’ve won a tournament so to finish it out strong was good.”
The second day finish boosted his confidence.
“I gave myself some really good looks and got the putter rolling,” he said. “I told myself to be more confident, pick a line, hit it and go from there. I had a lot of putts drop.”
He added the tournament’s format was a new challenge.
“I’ve never played Stableford before and didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I didn’t know how different it might be. But once the round went on the first day I got more used to it. I was more comfortable because I knew I could make a few more mistakes and it wouldn’t hurt me that much.”
Isoda is attending Ottawa University in Surprise, Az., and majoring in psychology. He said his studies will help him every time he plays golf.
“It’s definitely useful to be able to use some of the psychology tips I’ve learned,” he said. “It helps me stay focused.”
Championship
Jett Isoda, 40 points
Andrew Moore, 34
Kamden Ganir, 34
Net
Trevor Coss made it three titles in the last two months as he held on for a five-stroke victory. Coss also won the SNGA Tour stop at Bear’s Best in June and the 2020 Nevada State net title earlier in August.
It was a roller-coaster two days as Coss had two five-point net eagles on the first day but had to right the ship after three double bogeys during the final round. He got back on track and finished with net birdies on his final two holes to clinch the win.
“It really went sideways for awhile,” he said of his early Sunday struggles. “I gross parred the first six holes then took a double on No. 7 and No. 8.”
He said it was the Stableford format that helped his mindset.
“With this format I knew if I had a bad hole I would just take the damage and move on,” he said. “I’d lose two points but then be able to refocus on the next hole.
He added practice rounds were definitely the key.
“I went out and played two practice rounds and used the same caddie (Robert McKnight),” he said. “He really showed me the greens. Without him I wouldn’t have seen all the breaks. He’s the best caddie I’ve used.”
In the end, he said his recent success is two-fold.
“I’m striking the ball well and putting well,” he said. “That’s kind of a lethal combination.”
Net
Trevor Coss, 47 points
Nate Ross, 42
Michael Gilmore, 40
Senior
Jed Shreve birdied three of his first five holes in the final round and added a birdie on the final hole to win the Senior Division by six strokes. It was Shreve’s first SNGA win.
Shreve also tied for second at last week’s Nevada State Senior in Reno said his game is coming around.
“It’s fun to go out and play good golf and I’ve been playing pretty well lately,” he said. “I had a swing thought in Reno that seemed to work out pretty well the last two weeks.”
He added he hopes to keep those swing thoughts in mind going forward.
“I retired after 26 years with Deloitte Professional Services as a consultant,” he said. “Now I’m trying to see if I can get a decent golf game. I’m hoping to play a few more senior amateur events in the next few years.”
Overall, he said the two days were very solid.
“I didn’t make many mistakes and gave myself chances,” he said. “That’s been the key the last couple of events.”
Senior
Jed Shreve, 40 points
Kelly Knievel, 34
Chris Whatley, 32
Senior Net
Joe Rada had birdies on four of his final six holes to rally for the victory in the Senior Net Division.
It was his second win of 2020 as he also won the Boulder City Amateur in May.
“Today was a very good day off the tee,” said Rada. “I also had a lot of really good second shots and made all the putts I was supposed to make…and on the Cascata greens that’s very good.”
Saturday’s first round was a different story.
“I had a lot of awkward shots,” he said. “I’d hit it and say ‘Where the heck did that come from.’ I made three double bogeys yesterday and none today.”
The reason?
“Every second shot I had today I had good numbers into the green,” he said. “It was just pretty smooth.”
Senior Net
Joe Rada, 38 points
Troy Abajian, 36
Gordon Schiring, 36
Silver
John Turk made it four-for-four in victories in SNGA events, posting a six-stroke victory in the Silver Division.
It wasn’t as easy as the score looked.
“Today I hit the wall,” he said. “I was two-under through seven and going smoothly. Then I had bogeys on eight and nine with stupid putts. I had two bad drives on 10 and 11 that also led to bogeys.”
He didn’t panic.
“I was going…’What just happened’,” he said. “I had a little talk with myself and said ‘You’ve been playing good. Let’s not blow this thing’.”
He parred the final seven holes for the win. He added he knows the trouble spot he’s trying to work on.
“My wedge game is not as good as it should be,” he said. “I’ve been working on it. I’ve talked with Brady (Exber) and Todd (Roberts) and asked them how they hit half and three-quarter wedge shots. I’m working on it but it’s going to take time. It’s not something I’m going to improve on overnight.”
Silver
John Turk, 40 points
Steven Fink, 34
Steve Cribari, 34
Silver Net
Phil Huseby won for the second time in 2020 despite having a couple of erratic rounds.
“I was able to get four birdies both days but I also had seven double bogeys,” he said with a laugh. “That’s my game…you never know who is going to show up.”
Huseby added his ball-striking was solid…for the most part.
“I was hitting the ball pretty good for quite a few holes and then all of a sudden a shot winds up in the rocks,” he said. “It can be really frustrating but I didn’t let it affect me like it usually does. I just kept plugging away.”
He said it was tough to overcome his first round which was a roller coaster ride.
“Saturday was very inconsistent,” he said. “I went double, birdie, double, birdie, double, par, birdie. It’s just a shame how poor you can hit shots at certain times.”
But he’s still out there battling.
“It seems like every six months or so I have a good round in me,” he said. “I’m just hoping the next one is sooner.”
Silver Net
Phil Huseby, 40 points
Tony Troilo, 34
Patrick Carlin, 31
