Golf Summerlin Amateur: Exber Wins Again, Champs Comment
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (March 13, 2017)—The 2017 Summerlin Amateur golf tournament came down to a battle of survival as Brady Exber survived a three-man playoff to win the two-day event. The tournament was played March 11-12, 2017 over two of the Golf Summerlin family of layouts with Saturday’s round at Highland Falls Golf Club and Sunday’s final round at Palm Valley Golf Club.–By Bill Bowman
Golf Summerlin has three 18-hole layouts with Highland Falls and Palm Valley being 18-hole championship layouts while Eagle Crest is an 18-hole executive course.
Exber, Josh Goldstein and Alex Jordan finished tied at 2-under-par 142 setting the stage for the playoff where Exber parred the first hole for the win.
“My wedge game was really, really steady,” Exber said. “I knew they were struggling a little behind us. I knew if I birdied 18 I would be the low score (in his group) and it was good enough to get me in the playoff.”
Exber added to an ever-growing victory total. He’s won at least one tournament every year since 1989. “I won this tournament last year and it was the only one I won,” he said. “It is nice to win early.”
Exber also pointed out the course conditioning. “Both of them were in excellent shape and were really good tests for us,” he said.
All three got to the playoff in different ways. Jordan (72-70—142) played a seven-hole stretch in four-under par on Sunday but a late double bogey brought him back to the pack. Goldstein (75-67—142) had the round of the tournament on Sunday with a five-under-par 67 while Exber (72-70—142) played two solid days and followed up an even-par first-round with a two-under effort on Sunday including that birdie on 18 that got him into the playoff.
Ed Fryatt and Brett Kanda, both former UNLV Rebels, were tied after the first day with four-under-par 68 totals.
Championship Division
x-Brady Exber, 72-70—142
Josh Goldstein, 75-67—142
Alex Jordan, 72-70—142
Andrew Chu, 70-73—143
Edward Fryatt, 68-75—143
x-won in playoff
In the Net Division, Ryan Ramirez cruised to a 12-shot victory with rounds of 71-69—140. Second place went to Joe Benson with a score of 81-71—152.
Ramirez said his iron play was solid but also gave credit to his dad, Eduardo. “My dad caddied for me and gave me guidance around the course,” Ramirez said.
Net Division
Ryan Ramirez, 71-69—140
Joe Benson, 81-71—152
Andy Sessa, 77-76—153
Robert B. Taylor III, 79-74—153
The Senior Division saw Doug Pool birdie the 17th hole to open a lead over Gary Carpendale but it almost wasn’t good enough as Pool held on to win by a stroke after finishing with a bogey on the par-5 18th.
“I thought all I needed was a six on 18 and that’s what I got,” Pool said. “I had a downhill 20-footer for birdie and I was a little too careful and three-putted. But I had just chipped in for birdie on 17 and that gave me the cushion I needed.”
Senior Division
Doug Pool, 72-74—146
Gary Carpendale, 72-75—147
Peter Dunlap, 73-75—148
John Turk, 73-76—149
Luis Morais breezed to the Senior Net Division title, winning by 11 strokes. He posted scores of 71-64—135. Second was Don Blanton at 74-72—146.
“Everything went the right way for me,” Morais said. “I did start with two three putts but then, starting with the third hole, it kind of clicked in and I started playing well. I just didn’t make any big mistakes.”
Senior Division Net
Luis Morais, 71-64—135
Don Blanton, 74-72—146
Brian Marks, 75-72—147
Joe Gemma, 73-74—147
Neal Allen, 75-72—147
The Silver Division title went to Kevin Parrish as he beat Frank Abbott in a playoff. Both players finished with 74-72—146 totals and Parrish won with a par on the second hole.
“It was a little bit of a roller coaster,” Parrish said. “I made 10 birdies in the two days but I also had a couple of bad holes. I birdied 18 on Sunday to get into the playoff so I did play well down the stretch.”
Silver Division
x-Kevin Parrish, 74-72—146
Frank Abbott, 74-72—146
Jeffrey English, 77-72—148
x-won in playoff
In the Silver Net Division, it was Richard Southwick coming up with the victory, posting scores of 69-69—138 and a four-stroke victory over Larry Keever.
“I just clubbed down and played fairly conservative,” Southwick said. “I was struggling the first day and gave up on my driver after four or five holes and hit a lot of irons. I drove it better Sunday but still used a lot of irons off the tee. I also putted pretty well.”
Silver Division Net
Richard Southwick, 69-69—138
Larry Keever, 70-72—142
Stephen Wilson, 70-73—143
Tom Richardson, 74-71–145
Click here for the complete tournament results.
