Reinoehl, UNLV’s Sullivan Win Clark County Amateur Major
UNLV freshman Ty Sullivan won the Championship Division in the 2019 Clark County Amateur while Joel Reinoehl claimed the Net Division crown. The event was held Nov. 23-24, 2019, at Boulder Creek Golf Club. –by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider.
Championship
Sullivan put on a scoring exhibition with 11 birdies and an eagle over the two days to win the Championship Division by a stroke. Finishing just a shot behind was UNLV assistant golf coach Philip Rowe.
It was Sullivan’s first SNGA title. He eagled the 16th hole to take the lead and held on for the victory despite a last-hole bogey.
“I hit it pretty good all weekend,” he said. “I rolled in a few putts so that always helps.”
Ah, yes…putting. Sullivan admitted that’s been his drawback during recent struggles of his short golf career.
“Putting was the best part of my game,” he said. “But recently other parts have gotten better but my putting went downhill. I’m working on it a lot more and putting in the hours and it’s paying off.”
Sullivan is a graduate of Heritage Academy in Hilton Head, S.C., but is from Toronto where he just recently took up the game seriously. He’s definitely taken a liking to the warmer climates when he plays golf.
“That’s why I went down there (South Carolina) in the first place…to get out of the cold,” he said. “I actually played competitive tennis for eight or nine years and then after grade 10 I really got into golf. I could only play golf in the summers so I decided to move somewhere warmer where I could pursue it.”
It’s been a match made in heaven.
“I didn’t know if I would be as good at golf, but I knew I would enjoy it more,” he said. “I knew I’d have a lot more fun and thankfully it’s worked out.”
Now, about that putting.
“Coach (Dwaine) Knight has really helped me out with my putting,” he said. “He knows a lot about putting and he’s helped a lot of us on the team out.”
It paid off with an SNGA victory.
“I’m learning to deal with the pressure that comes with tournament play,” he said. “I didn’t play a competitive tournament until grade 11 and by playing more and more, it’s putting me in a position to win more. That really helped me out today. I just tried to take it shot by shot and it worked out well.”
Championship
Ty Sullivan, 69-68—137
Philip Rowe, 71-67—138
Craig Erickson, 71-69—140
Net
Joel Reinoehl, who was three shots behind the leader after the first round, rallied to win for the first time in SNGA play.
With a handful of holes remaining, there were four players tied for the lead. Reinoehl took control as he played his last five holes in four under par to rally for the victory.
It was also the first SNGA event he has entered and he admitted it won’t be the last.
“They throw a great tournament,” Reinoehl said. “I love the officials helping out if a ball goes astray and also when they re-iterate a rule if someone doesn’t understand it. It was just a great tournament.”
He said his play was as solid as it’s been in awhile.
“I just kept grinding,” he said. It was fairways and greens today. I think I missed just one fairway all day. My approach shots were right on point. I just wish I would have made a couple of more putts. I kept burning the edges…they just weren’t falling.”
He added practice was the key. “I worked on my game all week and worked on some things that helped me stay focused.”
Reinoehl concluded that it was a fun, but long, weekend. “I worked both nights until about midnight, went home and got a couple of hours of sleep and then played the tournament,” said Reinoehl, who is a Union Local 2001 glazier and working installing glass at the new Allegiant Stadium.
Net
Joel Reinoehl, 73-69—142
Daniel Castro, 70-74—144
Robert Golden, 72-73—145
