Gibbs Claims Inaugural SNGA Short Game Championship
Brigham Gibbs started quickly with a birdie on the first hole and went on to card a one-over-par 61 to win the 2017 SNGA Short Game Championship. The event was held April, 28, 2017 at Desert Willow Golf Course in Henderson, Nv. Gibbs carded five birdies and six bogeys in the wind-blown round to win by four shots. –By Bill Bowman.
Henderson’s Desert Willow Golf Club is a par-60 executive course. The layout reaches 3,811 yards and was designed by the world-class duo of Billy Casper and Greg Nash. The course has 12 par 3s and six par 4s along with impressive elevation changes, bunkering and water features.
Gibbs was fine with having to battle the course in windy conditions. “I love the wind,” he said. “I didn’t hit it very solid today but I kept it in play and I made a lot of putts.”
There was only negative to his round: “I did have a three-putt but I did make a couple of other putts that made up for that one,” he said.
This was Gibb’s second SNGA win, having won once in 2016. “I’m not in town a lot but if I’m here for business, I’ll certainly play.”
Championship Division
Brigham Gibbs, 61
Craig Erickson, 65
Jay Sostrich, 66
Matt Meyer, 68
Jason Cordon, 68
Net Division
A chip-in birdie helped Allen Grant, who has just returned to playing in SNGA events, to post a victory. “I felt I played pretty well,” he said. “But I did double-bogey three of the last five holes, but the wind will definitely take its toll…especially on courses like this with a lot of par 3s.”
Grant said he’s heard plenty of good things about SNGA events and thought it was time to come back. “I used to play in them way back, but life kind of got in the way and I got too busy. Now I’m starting to play again and this is a good welcome back.”
Net Division
Allen Grant, 65
Dustin Bierma, 69
Michael Godfrey, 70
Senior Division
The Senior Division saw Rob Mullaney start the round with a second-hole birdie, his only one of the round. He was even-par through his first eight holes and posted a three-shot win over James Hill. Mullaney posted a four-over-par score of 64.
Hill did have three birdies in his round, two on the front nine and one on the back nine.
Senior Division
Rob Mullaney, 64
James Hill, 67
Randy Burton, 74
Senior Division Net
Brad Davis’ net 63 wound up being good enough for a one-stroke victory over Anthony Santora and Don Blanton. Davis did post a birdie on the par-3 5th hole to highlight his round.
Santora battled back after starting the round with back-to-back triple bogeys.
Senior Division Net
Brad Davis, 63
Anthony Santora, 64
Don Blanton, 64
Silver Division
Jim Cail’s round included just one birdie, but he played solid enough to win the Silver Division crown with a 9-over-par 69. A triple bogey on the final hole almost cost him his victory as he posted a one-stroke win over Steve Johnson.
Silver Division
Jim Cail, 69
Steve Johnson, 70
John Kelley, 71
Silver Division Net
Carson Day held on for the win in the Silver Division Net. “It was pretty ugly out here,” he said. “It affected me more putting than anything else…that was the tough part.”
The 18th hole highlighted his day. “It was great finish, even though it was for a bogey,” he said. “The wind was treacherous. I hit a 200 yard club and it went about 150 yards. But then I pitched in off the green for a bogey so that was kind of a neat thing.”
Silver Division Net
Carson Day, 67
Alissha Champagne, 68
Michael Manthey, 71
