Nye County Championship Report: Jordan Wins Playoff, Abbott Continues Dominance
PAHRUMP, Nev. (May 7, 2017)–Alex Jordan beat Jeremy May on the fourth hole of a playoff to win the championship division of the 2017 Nye County Championship held at Mountain Falls Golf Club in Pahrump. The tournament, held May 6-7, was also the second qualifier for the 2017 Nevada State Amateur. Other division champs were Todd McDevitt, Tim Dugan, Don Blanton, Frank Abbott and Larry Agan. The players who qualified for the state am included: Scott Lytle, Andrew Watts, Kyle Robert Meade, Steve Mulryan, Gilbert Wilson III and Greg Whittemore.— By Bill Bowman.
May and Philip Rowe battled through windy conditions to lead after the first day, posting rounds of even-par 72. Jordan was three shots back after a first-round 75.
But during the final round, Jordan carded a four-under-par 68 that included five birdies and one bogey. That set up the playoff with May who had a second-round 71, one-under.
“I made a lot of putts,” Jordan said. “And I had a lot of crucial par putts that kept the momentum going. I had a 10-footer that was downhill on 17 that really helped.”
Both players parred the first three holes in the playoff and Jordan added a par on the fourth playoff hole for the win. It was his second victory in SNGA events.
Jordan said the first day’s windy conditions hurt him but he powered through it. “I have a little higher ball flight so the wind messes with me a little more, but I made some putts that definitely helped me out.”
Championship Division
x-Alex Jordan, 75-68—143
Jeremy May, 72-71—143
Charlie Magruder, 75-70—145
Philip Rowe, 72-74—146
Kenny Ebalo, 73-75—148
x-Won on fourth playoff hole
In the Net Division, Todd McDevitt’s second round 74 helped him pull away to a three-shot victory over Gary McCollum. McDevitt had rounds of 70-74—144 while McCollum posted 70-77—147
“I didn’t hit the ball real well, but I grinded it out pretty well,” he said. “I made a few putts when I needed to and I scrambled to do the best I could.”
It was McDevitt’s third SNGA win over the last two seasons.
Net Division
Todd McDevitt, 70-74—144
Gary McCollum, 70-77—147
Kenneth Paul, Jr., 74-77—151.
Tim Dugan opened with a 75 and held on for a three-stroke victory in the Senior Division. Dugan had a second-round 81 and held off a rally by Ed Thiele.
Dugan had his best round in Friday’s conditions. “I just played well the first day with the high winds,” he said. “I wound up with a four-stroke lead and was able to hold on at the end.”
Dugan lives in Pahrump and Mountain Falls is his home course. “I felt there was a little added pressure on me,” Dugan said. “I feel like I was expected to win on this course.”
Senior Division
Tim Dugan, 75-81—156
Ed Thiele, 80-79—159
Chris Whatley, 79-81—160
Don Blanton’s score of 73-76—149 was good enough for a two-stroke victory in the Senior Division Net. It was Blanton’s first victory in the SNGA events.
“I’m just having a great time,” Blanton said. “Last year I played in two tournaments and finished last in both of them and stopped playing. But now I’ve learned not to quit.”
He said his putting was solid. “It was my best putting tournament ever,” he said. “I had 31 putts both days. I didn’t three-putt and that’s what usually kills me in tournaments. The practice is starting to pay off.”
Senior Division Net
Don Blanton, 73-76—149
Randy Burton, 80-71—151
Brad Davis, 77-76—153
The Silver Division saw Frank Abbott fire an even-par 72 during the second round en route to an 8-shot victory. Abbott had a four-stroke lead after the first round, but his three-birdie, three-bogey effort in the second round helped him coast to the victory.
It was Abbott’s third victory of the season. “I played very good before the wind came up (Saturday) but had a couple of hiccups when the wind was blowing its hardest and had a couple of double bogeys,” Abbott said. “I was one-under on the back nine (Sunday). I played really solid on the back nine.”
Silver Division
Frank Abbott, 76-72—148
Kevin Parrish, 80-76—156
Bruce Swanson, 84-76—160
Larry Agan and John Kelly each fired rounds of 72-71—143 to tie for the top spot in the Silver Division Net with Agan winning on the first playoff hole.
“I stayed out of trouble pretty well both days,” Agan said. “If I had a bad shot I didn’t compound it with another bad shot. I definitely chipped and putted better on (Sunday) than Saturday.”
Silver Division Net
x-Larry Agan, 72-71—143
John Kelly, 72-71—143
Keith Redmann, 75-76—151
x-Won on first playoff hole
