Lorain, Bobroski, English, Algeo Win Eagle Crest Short Game Titles

Brandon Lorain (Championship), John Bobroski (Senior), Jeffrey English (Silver) and Jerry Algeo (Net) won titles at the SNGA Tour’s 2023 Short Game Championship. The tournament was held May 11, 2023, at the par-60 Eagle Crest Golf Club at Golf Summerlin.–by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider

Championship

Brandon Lorain had back-to-back birdies midway on the back nine and went on to record his first SNGA title, winning in a scorecard playoff.

“It’s good for your confidence to know you can still play well and win,” said Lorain, who works as a financial planner. “I’ve won in other parts of the country but it is my first win here.”

He said his game has been solid and he added hard work has paid off after three years of not winning in SNGA play.

“The course was playing pretty tough,” he said. “All of the pins were pretty well tucked and it was tough to get near flagsticks so you had to putt well to score.”

He said his back-to-back birdies came as he was putting with confidence.

“I didn’t miss a four-footer,” he said. “So I was able to get the green speed down pretty well. Making those two birdies certainly helped. Those were definitely the key.”

Championship

x-Brandon Lorain, 61

Cody Johnson, 61

Aaron Bartels, 62

x-won scorecard playoff

Senior

John Bobroski had three birdies over a four-hole stretch and went on to win the Senior title by two strokes.

It was Bobroski’s third victory in 2023 and he’s also won back-to-back events.

“I’m just hitting it good,” Bobroski said. “I still need to work on my putting but everything is coming together.”

He added it’s getting back to the basics that has also helped.

“I didn’t make any big numbers,” he said. “I was hitting fairways, hitting greens and then taking my one or two putts. I had it going pretty well but did have a couple of three-putts on the back nine which is why I’ve still got work to do with the putting.”

He said his game has been coming around because of all the work he’s been putting in.

“I had a stretch where I had the yip drives, the yip chips and yip putts,” he said with a laugh. “I think I’m finally over them with a lot of practice and dedication.”

He added it wasn’t easy.

“It’s no fun playing like that,” he said. “And now I’m finally getting back to having fun.”

Senior

John Bobroski, 61

David Koch, 63

Jeff Coppens, 65

Silver

Jeffrey English went on a par-birdie streak over eight holes (four pars with birdies in between each par) in posting a two-under-par total and a two-stroke victory.

English, coming off a Player of the Year season when he won four titles, won for the first time in 2023.

“It is the first win but I had two ties and lost in scorecard playoffs so I guess I have to stay away from those,”’ he said with a laugh.

He said the tournament lived up to its name.

“It’s a course where you have to be on with your wedge play,” English said. “And I hit my wedges good all day. I gave myself a lot of good looks.”

He rebounded after a slow start and one of his only bad shots of the day.

“I started off stupid on the first hole with a bogey,” he said. “I bladed a wedge but from then on I played very well.”

He said there was one other factor that stood out.

“I got some putts to drop and that’s a good thing,” he said.

Silver

Jeffrey English, 58

Frank Abbott, 60

Chris Cookson, 60

Net

Jerry Algeo won for the first time in two years, putting nine net birdies and a net eagle on the scorecard in posting a one-stroke victory.

Algeo won twice early in 2021 and said it’s nice to be back in the winner’s circle.

“This one’s for mom with Mother’s Day coming up,” said Algeo who lost his mom to COVID about a year and a half ago. “She was up there getting to watch.”

He said it was his putting that saved the day…and from an unusual spot.

“When you’re putting them in from the sand trap you know it’s going to be a good day,” he said. “It was just my day for some reason.”

He said the win shows his work on his game is paying off.

“The game is like that for me,” he said. “I’ll play pretty well and then not play well at all. I’ve been inconsistent my whole life.”

But in the end, he says you’ve just got to keep plugging away.

“Some days the game is there…some days it isn’t,” he said. “I just always try to do the best I can. Some days it works out and some days it doesn’t. But, I always have fun and that’s what it’s all about.”

He said the putting got a big boost recently.

“I switched putters and that seems to be working out well,” he said.

Net

Jerry Algeo, 53

Glenn Stout, 54

Troy Follman, 55