Resnick, Hogle, Fink, Algeo, Schiring And Gonzales Win SNGA Crowns In Mesquite
Brandon Resnick (Championship), Glenn Hogle (Senior) and Steven Fink (Silver) came away with gross division titles in the 2021 SNGA Mesquite Classic held April 17 and 18, 2021, at the Palms Golf Club in Mesquite. Jerry Algeo (Net), Gordon Schiring (Senior) and Dario Gonzales (Silver) were the net champions. –by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
Championship
Brandon Resnick definitely saved his best for last in winning his first SNGA title.
Resnick birdied four of his final six holes during the event’s second day to rally for the victory. The birdie barrage came a day after he shot a birdie-less, four-over-par 76.
“(Saturday) my putter was definitely struggling,” he said. “And (Sunday) was also a struggle until the 13th hole and then it finally started heating up.”
The difference?
“I was really struggling reading the greens,” said the UNLV senior who is finishing up in the PGM program. “My home course (in Simi Valley, CA.) is poa annua greens and these are Bermuda. These break less and I try to die the ball in the hole. I finally started playing less break and hitting the ball more firmly and the putts finally started dropping.”
He said he never gave up hope even after the first-day struggle.
“One thing about me is I never give up,” said Resnick who will start an internship in Texas in May. “In golf there’s a lot of adversity and it’s a tough journey. There’s something about the grind I thoroughly enjoy.”
Championship
Brandon Resnick, 76-68—144
Ian Fitz, 76-69—145
Kamden Ganir, 73-74—147
Net
Jerry Algeo, who hadn’t won an SNGA event in two years, has now made it two straight victories with a one-shot win in the Net Division.
Algeo started strong both days with a net eagle on the first hole but it was his finish the second day that sealed the deal. He had three birdies over his final three holes, one natural and two net.
“It was exciting,” he said of his finish. “We were all tied and I knew I had to make par at least.”
He said the final three holes offset a bad 15th hole, a par-5.
“On 15 I hit a perfect drive and my second shot was good,” he said. “I was just short of the green and it took me four shots to get it in. I had a good chance for birdie and then wound up with a bogey. That wasn’t good.”
But, he stayed positive.
“I was grinding,” he said. “Being tied I had an adrenalin rush. I knew I had to finish strong and I did.”
Like a few others, he said his putting was so-so.
“The greens were tricky,” he said. “Sometimes they were fast and sometimes they were grainy and slow. The putts didn’t always go where I thought they were going to go, that’s for sure.”
Net
Jerry Algeo, 73-71—144
Mick Godfrey, 74-71—145
George Wolf, 71-75—146
Senior
Glenn Hogle made it two straight SNGA victories, posting a five-shot win in the Senior Division.
Hogle had a roller-coaster weekend putting nine birdies, 11 bogeys and 16 pars on the scorecard.
“I had the putting woes,” Hogle said. “My ball-striking kept me in it. I was putting for eagle on six different occasions and played those holes in one-under. That’s not good.”
Hogle took a moment to count up seven three-putts and wound up with 39 putts on Sunday.
“I had nine putts inside of seven-feet that I missed…and they didn’t even hit the hole,” he said. “And four of those were inside of three feet. I had a terrible day on the greens. It was ‘Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride’ around the greens.”
But, he wasn’t upset about the putting problems.
“I just had to laugh about it,” he said. “It was pure hit-and-hope. But I was playing well enough to putt badly and still able to eke out a victory.”
In the end, he was optimistic.
“I’m looking forward to putting well again,” he said with a laugh.
Senior
Glenn Hogle, 72-74—146
Brian Frye, 75-76—151
David Koch, 78-76—154
Senior Net
Gordon Schiring survived a triple bogey and a double bogey to hold on for the Senior Net title, winning by one stroke.
It wasn’t the Sunday round Schiring had in mind.
“I was chasing Glenn (Hogle) the whole day,” he said. “But I blew up on six and that dream was over.”
Overall, Schiring said it was one of those days.
“The driver left me in the middle of the round, holes six through 12,” he said. “I had some issues. I kind of fell apart. I went triple, bogey, bogey…five over in that stretch. But I hung on to get what I could.”
And then there was the wind.
“For me, as a hometown boy, we never see that wind (direction)…ever,” he said. “My mind was racing the whole two days. It was a mind battle. It was almost a new course for me both days. But I gutted it out and tried to hold all the wheels on the cart.”
Senior Net
Gordon Schiring, 73-78—151
Bernard Strauss, 81-71-152
Freddie Sarno, 79-73—152
Silver
Steven Fink stayed perfect for 2021–he’s now won six events on the year–posting a four-shot win in the Silver Division.
“I had some really, really good luck (Sunday),” Fink said. “I’m not sure why but I hit three really bad tee shots and got lucky with them and took advantage.”
The end result is another SNGA victory in 2021.
“I had four birdies over the last 10 holes and that was the difference,” he said. “Saturday was a real tough day because there was a pretty good wind. It was howling on the last few holes. This is a very challenging course when the wind’s blowing.”
He said his first big break got him started on his birdie run.
“It was one of my lucky tee shots,” he said. “I skied it and barely made it over the water. I hit a pretty good wedge downwind and made about an 18-footer.”
He wasn’t finished.
“I made a couple of good birdie putts on 14 and 15,” he said. “The putts finally started dropping. That’s where patience really paid off.”
How patient was Fink?
“I had 30 putts,” he said. “Now 30 putts is OK, but no three putts is very good and I didn’t have any three putts. I’ll take it.”
Silver
Steven Fink, 72-70—142
Dan Parkinson, 74-72—146
Patrick Woerner,77-73—150
Silver Net
Dario Gonzales won three times in 2020–including the net title in the Silver Division of the 2020 Nevada State Senior held last August.
Since that time he’s had three runnerup finishes.
“I haven’t been playing that much this year so I’m really pleased with the way I played,” he said.
He said his final two holes were the key.
“I birdied 17 and got it up and down on 18 for par,” he said. “Those were big. On 18 I got it up and down from the fringe. I had about a six-footer for par. When I was putting I was thinking to myself that this is the putt that’s going to win it. I hearted it. It was a great feeling.”
He said he’s looking at this season from a different perspective.
“I’m more focusing on quality, not quantity,” he said of his cutting back on tournament play. “That’s my whole goal. I want to be able to just enjoy golf a little more.”
Now, with his victory and a spot in the Tournament of Champions, his outlook is right on track.
“I played in the last Tournament of Champions and finished second and that really boosted my confidence,” he said. “It’s also changed my attitude and lets me enjoy golf a little more by picking tournaments I feel like I can play the best in.”
Silver Net
Dario Gonzales, 74-72—146
Bobby Hakes, 73-75—148
Stephen Sitar, 76-74—150
