History was made at Legacy Golf Club as major championships for the Women’s Southern Nevada Golf Association and Southern Nevada Golf Association were played at the same course on the same weekend for the first time. Josh Goldstein breezed to the title in the Championship Division of the SNGA Southern Nevada Amateur, first major of the year, the 2018 Southern Nevada Championship. Frank Acker (Senior) and Frank Abbott (Silver) also won gross division titles and Daniel Rinaldi (senior net), Randy Burton (senior net) and Larry Keever (silver net) won titles .Check this link for the WSNGA story. — By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
Goldstein posted an 8-under-par 136 two-day total at Legacy Golf Club to win the crown as he beat runnerup Ed Fryatt by four strokes.
“I played really solid the first day,” he said. “I had five birdies and one bogey. Ed (Fryatt) made birdies early and I was just trying to keep up with him.”
It wound up being the 14th hole the second day that proved to be the key to his tournament. “It’s the second par-5 and I had about 240 (yards) in,” he said. “I hit a 3-iron and it never left the pin. I made the eagle and that kept me going.”
It was Goldstein’s second SNGA win of the year.
“My ball-striking was pretty solid and when you putt decent, that’s going to make for a pretty good combination,” he said.
Josh Goldstein
Championship
Josh Goldstein, 68-68—136
Ed Fryatt, 71-69—140
Grant McKay, 73-70—143
Net
Daniel Rinaldi is returning to the golf scene after a 2 ½-year layoff and he’s making a statement, winning his first tournament back by 11 strokes. He did have previous SNGA success, winning back in 2015.
“I didn’t get into any trouble and hit 16 of 18 greens,” he said. “When you keep it in play, you kind of expect to play well.”
Now it’s on to the rest of the season. “I’m excited to see what the rest of the season holds,” he said. “My game is getting in better shape so that always make you feel more confident.”
Daniel Rinaldi
Net
Daniel Rinaldi, 70-69—139
Larry Hanson, 70-80—150
Jeffrey Gilliame, 77-76—153
Senior Gross
For Frank Acker, it was business as usual.
“(Saturday), I had 17 pars and one birdie,” he said.
But it was a few of the pars that made the difference. “I had a couple of 15 footers for par and about a 4-inch birdie putt,” he said.
That led to a one-under-par round and set him up for the second day.
“It certainly wasn’t the score I had in mind,” he said of his one-over-par 73 on Sunday. “I was one-under through 7 holes (he started on the back nine) and then hit it in the water at 17. I had two more bogeys and missed a short putt on the last hole that I thought probably cost me. It was certainly a shaky round but I’ll take the win.”
Frank Acker
Senior Gross
Frank Acker, 71-73—144
Sean Mulvenon, 70-75—145
David Koch, 71-75—146
Senior Net
Randy Burton admits his putting was less than stellar over the weekend. “My putter certainly wasn’t my friend,” he said after his victory in the Senior Net.
But, he had the answer. “I chipped in four times for birdie and that was the difference,” he said of his first victory of the year. It was also his first SNGA start of 2018.
“I’m certainly happy to win,” he said. “I’ve put in a lot of hard work and had two practice rounds here and I feel that was the difference.”
Randy Burton
Senior Net
Randy Burton, 76-70—135
Orge Yocum, 70-69—139
David Golder, 75-68—143
Silver Gross
Different week, same result. Frank Abbott had back-to-back rounds of 73 to post a two-shot victory in the Silver Gross division.
It was Abbott’s second victory in as many weeks and third in 2018.
“At times it’s easy,” he said of his recent play. “At other times, it’s not.”
This was one of the easy weeks. The key shot came on the par 4, 4th hole. “I holed out my second shot for an eagle two,” he said. “After that, I just tried to make pars.”
Frank Abbott
Silver Gross
Frank Abbott, 73-73—146
Cyrus Whitney, 77-71—148
John Garrett, 75-78—153
Silver Net
For Larry Keever, it was simple. “My putter made all the difference,” he said. “I’m known as a short-game guy and it showed this weekend. Saturday I only had 26 putts…some for bogey, some for par. It was just one of those things.”
It was Keever’s first SNGA win of the year in his first tournament.
“This was a fun event,” he said. “I played pretty well and putted solid. That’s about all you can ask for.”
Frank Abbott and Todd Roberts, top Southern Nevada amateurs, added to their career totals with wins in the championship and Silver divisions of the recent Nevada State Senior Amateur played at Somerset Country Club in Northern Nevada. It was the second-straight wins for both in the prestigious tournament. –By Brian Hurlburt and Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider
Todd Roberts
“I thought (winning a second title) would be easier,” Roberts said. “But Dave Nelson is such a tough player. It was a dogfight and I thought I handled the pressure better. It’s all about putting for me. Roberts said. “I just got back from Winged Foot and I putted horrible there. I putted bad in the first round here and then I talked with Brady Exber on the phone and told him how uncomfortable I was. He said ‘There’s no rules for putting. Get comfortable with what makes you feel good.’ ”
Click to the official Nevada State Golf Association website for the complete NV State Amateur story.
Zachary Blake had two net eagles and his father, Jeffrey, also had a net eagle as they teamed up to win the Net Division in the SNGA Tour’s Father/Son event with an 8-under-par 63. The tournament was held June 10 at Las Vegas National Golf Club. –By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
The event was a two-person better ball (net) tournament with two divisions: Net, for teams where both players have a GHIN handicap and Callaway, for teams where one or both players don’t have a GHIN handicap.
Zachary and Jeffrey Blake
Net
The Blakes’ short game carried the day with net eagles on No. 2 (chip in), No. 12 (putt) and No. 15 (putt).
“Zach made some really good putts and chipped in on No. 2 (for a net eagle) so it really worked out well for us,” Jeffrey Blake said.
But there were also some tense moments down the stretch. “We tried to give it away at the end,” Jeffrey Blake said. “We both snapped one out of bounds on 18 and I made a putt for a double bogey, net 6, and we were hanging on for dear life. Overall we played well as a team but we didn’t finish as strong as we would have liked.”
Zachary Blake said they capitalized on the holes they got strokes on. “We birdied the holes we needed to birdie,” he said. “It was one of those days where everything worked out. It was a Father’s Day tournament with perfect weather and we played well. To win it was the cherry on top.”
Net
Blake-Blake, 63
Haddock-Haddock 64
Brooks-Little, 65
Bucalo-Ferguson, 65
Callaway
Michael Miller and son Christian put 11 net birdies on the card en route to an 11-under-par 60 and a 7-stroke victory. To put an exclamation point on the day, the duo birdied six of the last seven holes to pull away.
“It was definitely a strong finish,” Christian Miller said. “It was fun being out here with my old man. I think it’s the second time I’ve played golf in the last two years and I think I’ll come out more often.”
Michael Miller said the team avoided making big numbers. “We didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “We were just trying to put the ball in the right spots and make sure to give ourselves a makeable putt. That and we didn’t make any big mistakes.”
They both said they learned something about each other’s game.
“I learned my dad needs to work more on his driver and not beat himself up so much,” Christian Miller said.
Michael Miller added, “As a father, I just want him to be consistent, slow down and have a good time…and not stress out so much.”
May 21, 2018–Regina Quintero (gross) and Susan Daum (net) put together stellar rounds to win overall titles at the 2018 WSNGA Senior Amateur held May 14-15 at Chimera Golf Club in Henderson. Other champs were Carrie Langevin, Sandy Barletta, Karen Herness, Monica Fairbanks, Sharon Bunker and Fay Geddes. — By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
Overall
Quintero carded rounds of 72-74—146 to win the overall gross title. She won despite opening the second round with a triple bogey 7 on her first hole. “It was a little tougher today,” Quintero said. “I really didn’t start out on a good note with that triple. But after that I settled down and kept grinding. I did have a lot of birdie putts, but some of them just didn’t fall.”
Regina Quintero
Daum, (playing in the Gold Division, 60-69). put together rounds of 65-66—131 for the overall net win. “I’m very happy with it,” she said. “It’s tough trying to keep up with those young ‘uns. (Monday) I did it all well and today I did it well until the last few holes. They gave me a little trouble but I hung in there.”
Susan Daum
Silver (50-59)
Carrie Langevin put together rounds of 76-73—149 to win the Silver Division title in her first WSNGA event.
“It’s actually my first event in Nevada with this group,” Langevin said. “The women are fantastic and it’s a relaxed atmosphere. It helped the whole situation and allowed me to play better.”
She played so well that she didn’t deplete her golf ball supply at all. “I stayed out of trouble and that was the key,” she said. “I used one ball (Monday) and one ball (Tuesday),” she said. “I’m always happy when that’s the case.”
Carrie Langevin
Gross
Carrie Langevin, 76-73—149
Monica Kaili, 77-79—156
Sandy Barletta
Net
Sandy Barletta, 63-69—132
Charity Musial, 71-70—141
Gold (60-69)
Karen Herness overcame driving woes to post a victory in the Gold Division with rounds of 80-77—157.
“My driver didn’t work very well either day,” she said. “I got a new driver and we’re still working on getting to know each other.”
The rest of her game made up for her less-than-stellar driving. “My fairway woods were good and I chipped really well,” she said. “I lucked out and played well on the back nine. I had a couple of birdies (Tuesday) and birdied the last hole and that made the difference.”
Karen Herness
Gross
Karen Herness, 80-77—157 (won card playoff)
Sherry Jackson, 83-74—157
Sue Rambo, 84-77—161
Linda Cartwright, 86-76–162
Monica Fairbanks
Net
Monica Fairbanks, 62-70—132
Sherry Mesecher, 71-63—134
Sandy Jenkins, 68-69—137
Dee Evans, 68-72–140
Platinum (70+)
Sharon Bunker’s victory in the Platinum Division left her talking like a prophet.
“If you get old and hang in there, you’ll eventually win something,” she said with a laugh of her title in the 70+ division. “For an old lady, I did all right.”
She added her first round was solid and carried her to the victory. “(Monday) I had a lot of good holes,” she said. “(Tuesday) my swing was a little off and I just hung in there.”
Her overall look at her goals is one many should mimic. “Give me bogeys and a few pars and you’ll shoot a good round,” she said.
-While Alex Jordan won the Championship Division of the SNGA Tour’s stop at Chimera Golf Club in a one-hole playoff, 15 players earned spots in the Nevada State Amateur in the third and final qualifying event. Todd Roberts (Senior) and David Kim (Silver) also picked up gross victories.Jeff Gilliame (net), Don Blanton (senior net) and Dario Gonzales (Silver net) also claimed wins. — By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
The latest qualifiers for the Nevada State Amateur, set for July 9-11, 2018, at TPC Summerlin include: Alex Jordan, Wes Taylor, Richard Pawlasek, Craig Erickson, Tim Velasquez, Zac Frazier, Jett Isoda, Kyle Meade, Cameron Meeks, Dustin Craddock, John Bobroski, Greg Hudson, John Turk, Jason Cordon and Michael Abrams.
Championship
Alex Jordan won the Championship Division, his first SNGA win of 2018, with a 3-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole. He beat Wes Taylor after both carded 3-under-par 69s.
“My driver really worked well today,” Jordan said. “And I hit 15 or 16 of 18 greens so that’s always good.”
With the win, he qualified for the Nevada State Amateur. “It was the last chance,” he said. “I had to play well today and I did.”
He said the score wasn’t indicative of his play. “I hit the driver well and had a lot of good approach shots so it certainly could have been better,” he said.
Alex Jordan
Championship
Alex Jordan, 69
Wes Taylor, 69
Richard Pawlasek, 70
Net
Jeff Gilliame is on a roll. Gilliame carded an even-par 72 (net 66) and won an SNGA event for the third time in 2018.
“It was a little windy so I hit my five-wood off the tee all day to keep it in play,” Gilliame said.
He’s had his eye–and his game–on one main goal. “I’ve been practicing hard for the Cobb-Whelan Cup,” he said of the event set for June-29-July 1 at Las Vegas National. “It’s been my goal for the last two years and I made it this year.”
To keep his game moving in the right direction, he knows what has to be worked on. “I’ve just got to be able to hit my driver better,” he said.
Jeff Gillaime
Net
Jeff Gilliame, 66
Michael Godfrey, 67
David Haddock, 69
Senior
Todd Roberts won for the third time in 2018, posting a four-shot victory.
He said his game is right where he’d like it–with one exception. “I played really well again and made a couple more putts but I still missed a few three-footers,” he said. “I shot about as high as I could have today.”
He said his putting is solid for the most part but he knows it’s where he’s still hoping to improve. “If I start to get halfway decent from 6-feet and in, I’ll start shooting some really low scores. I’m definitely leaving some strokes out on the course.”
Todd Roberts
Senior
Todd Roberts, 71
Andre Cyr, 75
Chris Whatley, 77
Senior Net
Don Blanton’s practice routine is paying off in big ways. Blanton carded a net 69 to win the Senior Net title.
“I had good chips, good putts and no penalties,” Blanton said of his second straight net victory.
And he credits his practice routine for the turnaround. Following a 109 earlier in the year at Aliante, he knew something had to change. “I chip 40 balls a day and putt three to four times a week,” he said. “Going from a 109 to an 86 (gross) today is great. My game’s on the right swing. I’m not embarrassing myself anymore.”
Don Blanton
Senior Net
Don Blanton, 69
Donald Klier, 73
Kent Sorenson, 74
Silver
David Kim picked up his first SNGA victory with a one-under-par 71. It could have been much better.
“I could have shot 68 so easily today,” Kim said. “I missed a few putts. I had five birdies. My driving was so good and I had a lot of wedges or sand wedges in.”
Kim, a club champion in Michigan 25 years ago, said his round was solid. “Any time I’m under par I’m happy,” he said.
Silver
David Kim, 71
Tony Caiazzo, 74
Jeffrey English, 74
Silver Net
Dario Gonzales is another first-time winner on the SNGA Tour, picking up a victory in the Silver Net.
“I got in a really nice groove,” he said. “But I did get a few breaks. I had a few shots that could have been bad that turned out to be OK.”
He said he rebounded nicely from a rough start. “I played the No. 1 handicap hole first and was on the green and then three-putted,” he said. “But I ended on No. 7 and No. 8 and finished well. I made a 20-footer for birdie on No. 7 and then was on the green on the par-5 8th in two and two-putted for birdie.”
It was a challenging day for the golfers competing in the local qualifier at Canyon Gate Country Club. Four players advanced to sectional qualifying and while we could write about it, the Las Vegas Review-Journal featured the event on its front page of sports so link to that for more details.
The four advancing were Harry Hall, Wyndham Clark, Joel Kijowski and Gipper Finau. Alternates were Taylor Montgomery and Eric McCardle.
“The fairways were tight and the rough was long,” Hall said. “I hit a couple of great wedge shots out of the rough to about five feet today and that was a big key to the round. I putted great and didn’t miss anything outside of 10 feet, really.
“I got a little bit nervous towards the end and my new routines of doing the same thing every time were put to the test. I just backed off (the shot when I had to) and fired away. It was really cool and I had a great day.”
Joshua Goldstein and Wes Taylor give new meaning to ‘ham-and-egging-it’ when it comes to Four-Ball events. The duo breezed to the title in the Championship Division of the 2018 Boulder City Four-Ball Amateur held May 5-6 at Boulder City Golf Club. They previously teamed up to win the 2018 USGA Four-Ball Qualifier held Feb. 9 at Bear’s Best Golf Club. John Garrett and Kevin Parrish were the champs in the Silver Division gross. –By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
Championship Division
Goldstein and Taylor combined for 10 birdies the first day as they opened a four-stroke lead. Each of the duo birdied three holes individually and they also each birdied the same hole four times. They added to the lead on Sunday and cruised to the six-stroke win.
“Wes is just a par machine and it really frees me up to hit aggressive shots,” Goldstein said.
Their game plan is simple. Taylor hits first followed by Goldstein. “I don’t think we’ve ever changed it up,” Goldstein said. “It’s really easy to be aggressive when your partner is hitting it down the middle all day. We played smart and hit irons off the tee when we needed to. It just all worked out well.”
Goldstein also said the course made a huge difference. “The greens were in amazing condition,” he said. “They were probably running about 10 and were super smooth. We made a lot of putts. We had a few 10-15 foot par saves and really felt comfortable over them.”
Josh Goldstein and Wes Taylor
Championship Division
Goldstein-Taylor, 62-66—128
Bauman-Fryatt, 66-68—134
May-Horodesky, 66-70—136
Net Division
It was an even larger margin of victory in the Net Division as Luis Morais and Don Blanton carded rounds of 64-60—124 to post a 12-stroke victory.
“We kept the ball in play and had a lot of clutch putts both days,” Blanton said. “It really worked out great.”
Blanton added his partner’s game was a key. “Luis is a low handicap player and I’m a high handicapper so he was a great mentor to me,” Blanton said. “It’s guys like him that got me to join the SNGA in the first place. We just played consistent golf both days.”
Don Blanton and Luis Morais
Net Division
Blanton-Morais, 64-60—124
Gilliame-Ross, 70-66—136
Rinaldi-Elmore, 72-68—140
Silver Division
John Garrett and Kevin Parrish birdied three of the final seven holes to win the Silver Division crown.
“We had a two-shot lead most of the day so we just kept pace,” Garrett said. “We only had one bogey the whole tournament. Between the two of us, we kept it in front of us and made par or birdie.”
He added the team played conservatively, but still scored well. “We didn’t see anyone pushing us,” he said. “When we birdied 16 and 17 we were pretty confident. We just matched them and kept them an arm’s length away.”
Kevin Parrish and John Garett
Silver Division
Garrett-Parrish, 70-69—139
McShane-Thomas, 73-69—142
Corbin-Wilson, 73-71—144
Silver Division Net
Larry Agan and Michael Manthey rallied to win the Silver Division net title, coming back from a three-stroke deficit after the first day. The duo had rounds of 66 and 65 to post a two-stroke victory.
“We just hung in there,” Manthey said. “It was a good team effort.”
It needed to be. “We chipped in for birdie on the first hole (Sunday) and saw we were still three back,” he said. “But we had a birdie, a net eagle, on the 8th and that really got us going. We parred out the rest of the way and managed to win.”
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.”
Edward Fryatt
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.
Nate Ross (champ) and Mark Cox
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.”
Todd Roberts
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.”
Don Blanton
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.
Kevin Parrish
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.”
As most golfers realize, the course superintendents are extremely important to the game of golf, but sometimes go without recognition. Here at the SNGA we salute all of our wonderful course agronomy teams in Southern Nevada and share in the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) celebration of Earth Day on Sunday April 22. Here are some interesting and meaningful ways golf courses have become more environmentally friendly.
“Golf course superintendents are committed to their role as environmental stewards,” said Rhett Evans, GCSAA CEO. “The Golf Course Environmental Profile helps us document and share the many ways they are implementing change for the betterment of the environment.”
Since 2006, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) has been conducting a groundbreaking project, the Golf Course Environmental Profile (GCEP), to develop a comprehensive environmental profile of golf courses in the United States. A first phase of the five-survey study developed a baseline of data, and the second phase, completed in 2017, was used to measure change with updated trend analysis.
The surveys have provided critical data on land use, inputs, management of natural resources and environmental stewardship associated with golf courses.
The Five Ways of Golf Course Improvement as documented by GCEP in last 10 years:
Energy use: Annual median energy use at U.S. golf facilities has decreased 8.3 percent, this was primarily the result of a 31.4 percent decrease in consumption of electricity since 2008.
Nutrient use: U.S. golf courses have significantly decreased overall nutrient use since 2006, including a 34 percent reduction in nitrogen, a 53 percent reduction in phosphate and a 42 percent reduction in potash.
Pest management: Golf courses have increased their reliance on non-pesticide pest control practices such as cultural control, plant growth regulators and biological control.
Land use: The amount of maintained turfgrass on an average 18-hole golf course has decreased from 99 to 95 acres, with 46 percent of average 18-hole courses having increased natural area acreage.
Water use: Use of recycled water increased by 32.7 percent. Recycled water now counts for 25 percent of all water used on golf courses, thereby reducing the use of surface, ground and potable water sources.
The GCEP was created with funding through GCSAA’s philanthropic organization, the Environmental Institute for Golf. The EIFG partnered with The Toro Giving Program to fund the first phase of the project. In 2014, the second phase of the project was funded in partnership with the USGA.
To learn more about the Golf Course Environmental Profile and to see the full reports of both phases of surveys, visit the official website.
About GCSAA and the EIFG
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) is a leading golf organization in the United States. Its focus is on golf course management, and since 1926 GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the U.S. and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to nearly 18,000 members in more than 72 countries. The association’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org, or find us on Facebook or Twitter. Visit our industry-leading magazine at GCMonline.com.
The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA. Its mission is to foster sustainability through research, awareness, education, programs and scholarships for the benefit of golf course management professionals, golf facilities and the game. Visit EIFG at www.eifg.org, or find us on Facebook or Twitter.
Six more players earned their way into the 2018 Nevada State Amateur with strong finishes in the SNGA Tour event played April 17, 2018, at Aliante Golf Club. This was the second of three qualifiers for the Nevada State Amateur which will be held July 9-11, 2018 at TPC Summerlin. Plus, championships were earned in senior and sliver gross and net divisions. — By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
The six who earned the latest spots included: Brady Exber, Nathan Maas, Jeremy May, Chris LeCates, Kelly Knievel and Andrew Yeh.
Championship Division
The championship Division saw Ed Fryatt win for the second time in 2018.
This one was a roller coaster round as he mixed in six birdies with four bogeys. He made the outcome interesting with four birdies, three bogeys and a lone par over the final eight holes. Fryatt was already qualified for the Nevada State Amateur.
“For everybody it was a matter of just keeping it in play with the wind,” Fryatt said. “I missed just one drive all day so I was pretty happy for the most part.”
He said the finish, back-to-back bogeys, wasn’t the way he wanted the round to end. “I had it to four-under twice and you never want to finish that way but I can’t be too disappointed.”
Fryatt said the event was a good one to use in preparation for this weekend’s event at Mountain Falls. “I haven’t played a tournament round for a while so this was a good chance to escape work and use this as a tuneup for the tournament this weekend,” he said.
Ed Fryatt -stock photo
Championship Division
Ed Fryatt, 70
Brady Exber, 72
Nathan Maas, 73
Net Division
After a pair of runner up finishes in the Net Division to start off 2018 as well as one to end 2017, Nate Ross finally found his way back into the winner’s circle with a three-stroke victory.
Ross’ last victory was the Net Division in the 2017 Clark County Amateur.
“I made three birdies on the back nine to save the round,” he said. “I had a few double bogeys back there, too, so it was nice to get a few shots back.”
He played the last three holes two-under gross, finishing birdie-par-birdie. “That’s what won it for me.”
Breaking the string of runner up finishes was also on his mind. “It does feel good to win again,” he said. “Some of those (runner up finishes) came down to mental mistakes and hopefully I’ve put those behind me.”
Nate Ross – stock photo
Net Division
Nate Ross, 73
Eduardo Ramirez, 76
Tucker Field, 78
Senior Division
Frank Acker, also coming off back-to-back runnerup finishes, posted a victory in the Senior Division beating Todd Roberts by one stroke.
Acker won the Henderson event in February before his two runnerup finishes.
Acker said the win didn’t come without a few struggles. “I played pretty well but I didn’t finish well with a double bogey,” he said. “My ball-striking was good but I had three 3-putts. I struggled with a few short putts but I had a 20-footer and a 15-footer so I made a few, too. I’m working on some new stuff and just need to get more confidence.”
He added it was nice to win despite the finish. “I really thought I gave it away today,” he said.
Frank Acker -stock photo
Senior Division
Frank Acker, 75
Todd Roberts, 76
Vincent Sturbaum, 87
Senior Division Net
Evan Green posted his second SNGA victory, winning the Senior Division Net crown.
His last victory was the Senior Net title at the 2014 Clark County Amateur at Boulder Creek.
“I’ve been playing competitive golf since high school,” he said. “But I haven’t played competitively much recently. I have my attention span on a few other things in life including standup comedy and charity work with my wife, LVIP Dining. I love golf, but right now I’m exploring other things as well.”
As for how he got back in the winner’s circle, that was easy. “I was steady Eddie,” he said. “I kept the ball in play and aimed for the middle of the greens, especially when there were sucker pins.”
Evan Green
Senior Division Net
Evan Green, 72
Gary Drinkhorn, 80
William Thompson, 83
Silver Division
Al Kueker made it back-to-back Silver Division gross titles, beating Frank Abbott by two strokes. It is Kueker’s fourth Silver Division crown of the year, two gross titles and two net crowns.
“It seems like you should be able to play well all the time but it doesn’t always seem to work that way does it,” Kueker said of his streak. “Today, even my bad shots wound up being pretty good.”
He said his round started off up-and-down. “I birdied the first hole but then double-bogeyed the second,” he said. “Then I thought ‘Uh oh, here we go again’ but then I parred a lot of holes after that and it all worked out.”
He chuckled when asked about the key to his success. “I found that if I keep the ball in front of me and out of all of the crap it makes it a whole lot easier.”
Al Kueker
Silver Division
Al Kueker, 73
Frank Abbott, 75
John Garrett, 80
Silver Division Net
Welcome back to the winner’s circle, Dave Haddock.
Haddock has been off the SNGA circuit since 2006 but came back with a bang, winning the Silver Division Net title for his first win since the early 2000s.
“Arthritis kind of knocked me out but I’m slowly getting back into it,” he said. “I’m trying to do the one-day events and didn’t do too badly in this one.”
He said his goal was simple. “I don’t hit it far enough to get into any trouble,” he said. “And my chipping and putting, the only things I can really practice, saved the day for me.”
It’s one of golf’s oldest sayings: You drive for show and putt for dough. But don’t forget about those challenging approach shots in between those drives and putts. The SNGA’s 2018 Short Game Championship at Desert Willow put those short-game skills on display in a one-day event on April 6, 2018. In the end, Craig Erickson (Championship), Todd Roberts (Senior) and Al Kueker (Silver) showed off their short-game talents in winning gross division titles while Shawn Smith (net), Todd Sherman (senior) and Larry Agan (Silver) won net titles. — By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
Desert Willow Golf Club is a par-60 executive course located in Henderson. The layout reaches 3,811 yards and was designed by Billy Casper and Greg Nash.
Championship
Craig Erickson finished in high style with three straight birdies in posting a five-stroke victory in the Championship Division. He shot even par 60 on the challenging layout, despite its apparent lack of length.
“That’s a really good score on this course,” Erickson said. “It’s a hard course.”
Erickson said his round was solid from start to finish. “I hit 16 or 17 greens and birdied all of the par 4s except on the first,” he said. “I just didn’t get into much trouble.”
This was Erickson’s first start in 2018. He won the 2017 Clark County Amateur.
“I had a lot of good looks and making three straight birdies at the end was a good way to finish,” he said.
Craig Erickson
Championship
Craig Erickson, 60
Jason Cordon, 65
Brandon Wilkinson, 68
Net
Shawn Smith’s one-over-par 61 was good enough for a one-stroke victory in the Net Division.
“I had a couple of birdies in the middle and a few strings of pars so I played pretty solid,” he said of his second SNGA victory in 2018.
The key to his early-season success? That’s easy. “I just try not to get too excited,” he said. “Once I start to get excited, whether it’s good or bad, that’s when I get in trouble.”
He also said his par-3 play has helped his success. “I just try to stay relaxed and not overhit my irons,” he said. “It’s really that simple.”
Shawn Smith
Net
Shawn Smith, 61
Jim Cail, 63
Alissha Champagne, 64
Senior
Todd Roberts won a scorecard playoff over Frank Acker for the Senior Division title. It was Roberts’ first SNGA win of 2018.
“I got off to a really bad start,” Roberts said. “I was four over through the first six holes and I had hit five greens so it was pretty frustrating.”
He said his overall day left a lot to be desired. “I had a hard time putting on the greens,” he said. “I only had one birdie and just kind of hung in there. I persevered and fortunately it was good enough.”
Todd Roberts
Senior
Todd Roberts, 64
Frank Acker, 64
Scott Gardner, 66
Senior Net
Todd Sherman’s first win in an SNGA event started off with a bang as he birdied the first hole en route to a four-shot victory.
“I was pretty pumped up after that,” he said. “I played good through 10 and then I went OB and kind of screwed up the score but I still managed to come out on top.”
He said his game-plan was simple. “It was a little windy to begin with so I kept it low,” he said. “My short game is pretty good and I was happy with the round.”
Todd Sherman
Senior Net
Todd Sherman, 60
David Koch, 64
Don Blanton, 66
Silver
Al Kueker won his third Silver event of the year, but his first gross division crown.
“I didn’t play that well but I chipped and putted pretty well,” he said. “It’s a pretty tough course.”
And he saw the toughness first-hand. “I three-putted eight and nine and thought ‘here we go’ but I got the putter back on track on the back nine and finished pretty well.”
He said the 14th hole proved to be the key. “It’s a 220-yard par-3 and I hit driver over the green but managed to get it up and down for par.”
Al Kueker
Silver
Al Kueker, 65
John Kelley, 69
Michael Manthey, 81
Silver Net
Larry Agan is in the winner’s circle for the first time in 2018, posting a four-shot victory in the Silver Net Division.
It was Agan’s first win in 2018 after picking up two wins in 2017 and one victory in 2016.
“I stayed out of trouble and didn’t have any high scores,” he said. “I haven’t played golf in awhile and luckily everything worked out well today.”
He added he finished strong. “I was only two-over the last seven holes,” he said.
Tim Brand is a true golfer and excited to be your new Director of Competitions. He brings varying levels of experience to his new role with the Southern Nevada Golf Association. He officially starts April 6 at the Short Game Championship at Desert Willow. Brand served for the last five years in varying roles for the Century Club that operates the PGA Tour’s Farmers Open. He is also a low handicapper and has worked in several roles at different golf courses. — By Brian Hurlburt, Las Vegas Golf Insider.
“I have been working in the game of golf for about the last 14 years in many different roles, and I have played the game for a long time and really love and appreciate the sport,” Brand says. “Due to my work at green grass golf shops and as an administrator for the Century Club and my experience as a player, I think I can come to this new role from all sides and understand pretty much every facet. That will help me be successful.”
Tim Brand
While in the San Diego area, Brand worked at Barona Creek, Riverwalk and The Grand courses, in addition to his work with the Century Club, where he served as Pro-Am coordinator, Honorary Monitor Chairman and varying other roles. Now Brand sets his sights on growing the SNGA tournaments and making them as high quality as possible.
“I am excited to be here and there seems to be a very strong core group of players in the Southern Nevada Golf Association and I look forward to getting to know them and helping enhance their experiences,” Brand says. “I had the chance to be in Las Vegas and be a part of the Summerlin Amateur and watched Brady Exber defeat Ben Sawaia in a playoff. That was very exciting and it is clear to me that there are some very good and talented players here, and it is exciting to be a part of that.
“My main goal is to get everything organized and up to date and utilize technology to help with Player of the Year lists and other ways. I also want to help grow participation and make sure every tournament is at maximum capacity. If I can help make the players’ experiences memorable and very special, then I believe they will tell their friends about it and more and more players will want to get involved in every division, from Championship to net to senior to Silver.”
Welcome, Tim. Look for him at a course near you, soon, and say hello.
March was quite the month for veteran Rob Jackson, who is also the president of Heroes in the Rough, a pretty amazing organization saving the lives of wounded veterans through the game of golf. Jackson was nominated to be the Nevada State Veteran of the Month and received the honor from Governor Brian Sandoval. Jackson also earned separate Veteran of the Month recognition from the office of Senator Dean Heller. Read on for more about him and the “Heroes” story. – By Brian Hurlburt, Las Vegas Golf Insider.
Heroes in the Rough helps veterans, mostly who are more than 50% disabled and those that Jackson says sometimes fall through the cracks because it is difficult for them to be active due to their circumstances.
Plain and simply, golf has given them a reason to live in many instances.
Heroes in the Rough is getting veterans back into the game of life.
If you are interested in helping this worthy cause, visit HeroesInTheRough.org to play in their charity events. Another note: according to Jackson, the non-profit organization is “salary-less”, meaning every dollar raised goes back to helping the veterans and nobody from top to bottom is compensated.
The statistics do not lie, “22+ veterans commit suicide everyday due to mental issues, depression and PTSD”, staggering numbers that are just unacceptable. Heroes in the Rough is helping lower this statistic.
Jackson served in the United States Marine Corps as a reservist attached to Bravo Company 4th Tank Battalion (Yakima, Wa.) from 1985-1993. His unit was activated to participate in Desert Storm and attached to 1st Battalion 8th Marines – 2nd Marine Division. He was a gunner on one of the M1A1 tanks and was responsible for engaging any hostile targets. His unit is known for spearheading a Marine Division, engaged in the fastest and largest tank battle in Marine Corps history and having the highest kill ratio in the Gulf War. Jackson suffers from Combat PTSD and has never forgotten the many lives he took.
In 2018, The National Museum Of The Marine Corps will represent his unit in the final phase Desert Shield/Desert Storm exhibit for there accomplishments.
As for the Nevada awards, Jackson was stunned by the nomination and then to be unanimously selected for the honor was the icing on the cake.
“I really can’t say I was excited because I was so overwhelmed,” Jackson said. “But it is pretty cool and anything that helps bring awareness to our brave and determined veterans is very meaningful.
“As for members of the Southern Nevada Golf Association, we welcome them to play in our tournaments and it is wonderful they are recognizing our golfers. Also, I just want golfers to be patient if they ever encounter any of veterans on the course playing and using the para-mobile or making their way around the course. They are out there getting back to living a quality life. The recognition from other golfers means a lot to all of us.”
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1522882145266{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sue May has been the leading United States Golf Association rules official in Southern Nevada for many years and oversees dozens of local and regional tournaments annually, plus assists on a national level.
So she is the perfect person to ask about the new Rules of Golf, which are set to go into play January 1, 2019. For the next few months, May will give us an inside look at the new rules and we will give you access to the official USGA website for even more information.
“One of the new Rules I think will benefit the player the most is not having to take stroke and distance when your ball is lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds,” May says. “This is a Local Rule that I think all clubs and associations should adopt in order to speed up play. There’s nothing worse than having to go back to the tee especially when other players are there ready to tee off. Using this local rule will cost the player two strokes, but could be well worth the penalty. This rule and now having only three minutes to look for a lost ball, instead of five, are going to reduce the time of your round of golf.”
Among the areas the new rules will impact are: Ball at rest, ball in motion, taking relief, areas of the course, equipment, playing a ball, when to play during a round and player behavior.
For a complete look at the new rules, click to the USGA.org rule hub now.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]
The SNGA Tour’s Desert Pines stop marked the first chance for players to punch their ticket into the 2018 Nevada State Amateur. The one-day event, held March 19 at Desert Pines Golf Club, saw Steve Fink win the Championship Division gross crown and earn a coveted spot in the event. The other gross division winners were Brian Marks (Senior) and Frank Abbott (Silver). Net winners were Shawn Smith, Steve Soffa (Senior net) and Carson Day (Silver net). — By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
Championship
Steve Fink’s one-under-par 70 was good enough to earn him a three-stroke victory and the spot in the Nevada State Amateur set for July 9-11 at TPC Summerlin.
“I haven’t been playing much in SNGA events but I wanted to play in the State Amateur and decided to give this one a try,” Fink said. “I’m taken aback that I played so well.”
Even though Fink has lived in Vegas for more than two decades, it was the first time he had played Desert Pines.
“(Sunday) was the first time I had played here and I was shocked at how tough the course was,” he said. “The greens were nice and fast and it made me focus and grind hard. I made all the short putts I had to make.”
Fink wound up third in the Nevada State Amateur a few years ago but added his game is on the rise.
“I’m actually playing real good golf right now,” he said. “I’m focusing better. I’ve always been a pretty good golfer but I haven’t always been consistent.”
He also has another big event on his tee sheet in 2018. He’s qualified for the 2018 British Senior Amateur which will be held in early August at Royal Porthcawl.
“I was the first alternate at Bear Creek (in California) in the U.S. Senior Open,” he said.
Ultimately, Fink got in the U.S. Senior Open last year and has a two-year British Senior Amateur exemption due to playing in the tournament.
Another Las Vegan, Brady Exber, won the British Senior Amateur in 2014.
Steve Fink
Championship
Steve Fink, 70
Greg Horodesky, 73
Tate Guild, 75
Dave Johnson, 75
Net
Shawn Smith carded a net under-under-par 70 en route to his first victory in SNGA action, winning the Net Division by seven strokes.
The day didn’t start out in a positive way. “I had a double bogey and a bogey on the first two holes,” he said. “But I came back with a birdie on the third and thought that if I just played smart, I would get through.”
He added a key was his game plan off the tee. “It’s a super narrow course so I wasn’t using the driver when I only needed a five or six iron to get to a comfortable length to get to the green,” he said.
But sometimes he had to fall back on his short game. “I was in the sand a couple of times and short of the green a couple of times and managed to get up and down so my short game really saved me,” he said.
Shawn Smith
Net
Shawn Smith, 70
Jeffrey Gilliame, 77
Jayar Hawley, 80
Senior
Welcome to the winner’s circle, Brian Marks.
“I finally won a championship,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve only been playing (SNGA events) for a couple of years so it’s nice to finally win.”
He said every aspect of his game was solid. “I putted real well on the front nine and I hit the ball nice and straight,” he said. “I didn’t hit any drivers and on the back nine I just tried to play as consistent as I could. The pin positions were tough but I played smart with good course management.”
Brian Marks
Senior
Brian Marks, 80
Darin Garness, 87
Gary Drinkhorn, 88
Senior Net
Steve Soffa’s first SNGA victory was a six-shot win in the Senior Net division. It was just his second appearance in SNGA action.
“I just kept it in play and focused on putting,” he said. “I wanted to be aggressive because every time I’m timid and want to be perfect, I wind up getting in trouble. I just kept it in play and gave myself a chance.”
He added his thought patterns were also key. “I just want to have a free flowing swing,” he said. “I don’t want to sit up there and look at the ball. You’ve got to see where you’re going to hit it and let it go.”
Steve Soffa
Senior Net
Steve Soffa, 75
David Golder, 81
Clayton Barrow, 82
Silver
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: Frank Abbott won the Silver Division crown with a two-over-par 73, good enough for a six-stroke victory.
The win, Abbott’s first in 2018, helped him get back into the form he showed in 2017 when he won 11 times.
“I’ve been playing really bad,” Abbott said of his recent rounds. “Today I hit the ball well and didn’t miss any stupid putts.”
He said he took a break as he went out of the country for a month. When he got back, it was not a good sight.
“I couldn’t hit a thing,” he said. “Over the last week I made a little swing change and started to hit it better.”
In the Desert Pines event, he said he had just a couple of bad swings. “One of them cost me a bogey and one cost me a double bogey,” he said. “But overall I played pretty solid and it’s nice to get back into the winner’s column.”
Silver
Frank Abbott, 73
Bruce Swanson, 79
John Kelley, 82
Silver Net
Carson Day’s net one-under-par 70 earned him his second SNGA title as he won in 2017 at Desert Willow.
“Two things really helped me,” Day said. “I started concentrating more on my grip and I also slowed down my swing. I’m taking time and trying not to overpower the shot….trying not to kill the ball.”
It worked. As did his outlook on the game of golf itself. “I’ve always been kind of impatient,” he said. “Rather than taking a little time, I’d start making mistakes and making big numbers. Today I didn’t make any big numbers.”
He admits it was just one of those days. “Everything kind of fell into place,” he said. “I was six or eight strokes better than I usually score and it was because I didn’t make any big mistakes. It was that simple.”
It was youth vs. experience in the 2018 Summerlin Amateur Championship and experience won. Brady Exber, a 9-time SNGA Player of the Year, beat Ben Sawaia , a junior at Coronado High School and future UNLV player, with a birdie on the first playoff hole to win the Championship Division. Gary Carpendale (Senior) and John Garrett (Silver) also won gross division titles. Net titles went to Jeffrey Gilliame, Chris Boyer (Senior) and Al Kueker (Silver). — By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
The tournament was played March 10-11 at two of the three Golf Summerlin courses, Highland Falls and Palm Valley.
Championship
For Exber, it was a win he won’t soon forget.
“Let me tell you, you’ll be hearing a lot about Ben in the future,” Exber said. “He’s a player.”
The two each fired 67s in the opening day to share the lead.
Exber started the final tournament day with a double bogey on the first hole while Sawaia posted an eagle. But after Exber birdied two of the next three holes while Sawaia stumbled on the fifth hole, things were tight.
“After I made those two birdies it kind of settled me down and it was on,” Exber said. “It was some really good golf today.”
The second-place finish was Sawaia’s best effort in an SNGA event.
“It felt great playing with Brady,” Sawaia said. “I putted real well the first day but the second day it was a little rougher. My iron and wedge play were good but I had a lot of two putts. But overall I’m happy with the way I played. I was happy to back up a good first round with a solid second round.”
Exber said wins are always special. “With me, you just never know when the last time you’ll win a golf tournament will be,” he said.
Exber also said the golf site also was an edge for him. “After all, we are playing in Sun City, a retirement community,” the soon-to-be 62-year-old Exber said with a laugh. “I’m probably much more comfortable in a retirement community than Ben is.”
Ben Sawaia and Brady Exber
Championship
Brady Exber, 67-71—138
Ben Sawaia, 67-71—138
Ed Fryatt, 68-73—141
Net
Jeff Gilliame made it two straight SNGA titles with a one-stroke victory in the Net Division.
“I just hung in there today,” he said. “My 5-wood was my savior. It kept me out of trouble as the course isn’t that long so I could use it a lot.”
Gilliame held off a hard-charging Nate Ross. “It was definitely a battle down to the last hole with my buddy, Nate,” Gilliame said. “I made a couple of nice par saves on two of the last three holes. I bogeyed the last but it was still good enough to win it.”
Jeffrey Gilliame
Net
Jeffrey Gilliame, 76-72—148
Nate Ross, 79-70—149
Eduardo Ramirez, 75-79—154
Senior Gross
Carpendale used an eagle on the par-5 11th hole at Palm Valley en route to a two-stroke victory. Carpendale’s one-under-par 71 on Sunday was the division’s only under-par round over the two days.
“I hit it horrible the first day,” Carpendale said. “And I didn’t hit it well the first nine (Sunday). I finally started hitting the driver better on the back nine and the eagle really jump-started me. I had a couple of other birdie putts on the back but only managed to make one.”
Carpendale hit driver, rifled a 7-iron to about 10 feet and then made the putt for his first SNGA win in 2018 after three victories in 2017.
“It’s a lot easier to go home when you finish up playing well,” he said. “I was just hanging around in case there was a playoff but then they told me it was good enough.”
Gary Carpendale
Senior Gross
Gary Carpendale, 78-71—149
Frank Acker, 78-73—151
Doug Pool, 76-75—151
Senior Net
Chris Boyer breezed to an 11-shot victory in the Senior Net race. Boyer carded rounds of 70-71—141.
“I’m happy to be in the winner’s circle again,” said Boyer, who won the state senior net crown in 2017. “It’s my first tournament back this year. I’ve been practicing a lot and that paid off.”
He added his driver and putter were the key. “I drove it well but my irons and chipping were off,” he said. “My putter bailed me out on a lot of holes.”
Chris Boyer
Senior Net
Chris Boyer, 70-71—141
James Corey, 77-75—152
Tim Dugan, 76-77—153
Brian Marks, 76-77—153
Silver Gross
Garrett put together a 6-under-par round on Sunday to rally for a four-stroke victory in the Silver Gross division. Garrett’s round included five birdies and an eagle. He came into the final round five shots back.
“I just got lucky and hit a few good shots and made a few putts,” he said with a laugh.
Garrett, who posted his first SNGA win of 2018 but has past Senior and Silver division titles to his name, said the opening round didn’t leave him with many positive thoughts.
“(Saturday) I was pull hooking and pushing everything,” he said. “I was all over the place…I couldn’t hit a tee shot and then I’d three putt. I threw away seven or eight shots.”
Sunday was a different story.
“The key was the eagle I made on eight,” he said. “I was two under and that got me to four under. I’ve seen it plenty of times that once players start making putts, there’s nothing you can do and I made a bunch of 15 footers.”
John Garrett
Silver Gross
John Garrett, 79-66—145
Cyrus Whitney, 74-75—149
Frank Abbott, 75-75—150
Silver Net
Al Kueker summed up his Silver Net title succinctly. “Today I finally made some putts,” he said after his two-shot victory over Tom Richardson. It was Kueker’s second straight Silver Net title.
He said the putting the first day was a big problem.
“I hit the ball real well,” he said. “I didn’t miss a fairway either day and hit good irons. But (Saturday) I had 37 putts and today I had 30 putts so I did finally putt pretty well.”
He added he did struggle at the end. “I finished bogey, par, bogey so I didn’t stay with it and finish the way I would have liked,” he said.
“I really can’t say I was excited because I was so overwhelmed,” Jackson said. “But it is pretty cool and anything that helps bring awareness to our brave and determined veterans is very meaningful.
