SNGA Champs Named at Nicklaus’ Reflection Bay
Ed Fryatt scorched the field in cruising to a 13-stroke victory in the Championship Division of the 2018 Reflection Bay Amateur at the Jack Nicklaus Reflection Bay Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas. Sean Mulvenon (Senior) and Frank Abbott (Silver) also won Gross Division titles. Jeff Gilliame (Championship), Freddie Sarno (Senior) and David Kim (Silver) came away with Net Division crowns. –By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff
Championship
Fryatt won for the fourth time in 2018, sizzling to the victory after rounds of 67-63—130. The second-round 63 included two eagles and five birdies.
Fryatt, who is the second alternate in the 2018 U.S. Amateur scheduled for next month at Pebble Beach, said his game was hitting on all cylinders all weekend.
“It was a good week,” Fryatt said despite the disappointment of not qualifying for the U.S. Amateur. “I’ve been close to playing really well. I made a much-needed change in my grip but I didn’t know it would pay dividends this quickly. And the greens were great. I also putted very well.”
He added the win helped him end the week on a positive note. “I’m still disappointed in not qualifying for the U.S. Amateur,” he said. “But I’m driving it better and we’ll move forward and use it as a learning experience.”
Championship
Ed Fryatt, 67-63—130
Kenny Ebalo, 70-73—143
Greg Horodesky, 71-74—145
Net
What a difference a day makes.
Jeff Gilliame was nine shots off the lead after an opening round (net) 81 but came roaring back with a 66 to rally for the Net Division victory.
“(Saturday) was a little bit rough,” Gilliame said. “But (Sunday) I shot really well and passed everybody.”
He said his work on the green was the key. “I putted really well all day and that made a big difference,” he said of his gross score of 73. “I was two-under on the back and was really happy with the way I finished.”
He said having to rally for the victory gave him a different perspective. “It was a little more fun coming from behind rather than sitting out front,” he said. “It was just a real solid day.”
Net
Jeff Gilliame, 81-66—147
Nate Ross, 79-71—150
Todd Kirby, 79-73—152
Senior Gross
Sean Mulvenon picked up his first SNGA victory, winning a four-man playoff with a birdie on the second hole. It came in Mulvenon’s third SNGA event.
Mulvenon had a second-round 68 to vault up the leaderboard and into the playoff picture. His round included five birdies and an eagle. His second round was 12 strokes better than his opening round.
“I put new irons in the bag and I’m starting to get comfortable with them,” he said. “I really hit them well. I hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation so I played very well.”
After his opening round, he knew he had work to do. “I went out and played about 15 holes and worked on my mechanics. I noticed my setup was a little closed and that made a big difference.”
His putting was also spot-on. “I made an eagle putt from about 25 feet but the other putts I made were around 10-15 feet so I gave myself some good looks.”
Senior Gross
x-Sean Mulvenon, 80-68—148
Doug Pool, 76-72—148
David Koch, 75-73—148
Todd Roberts, 76-72—148
x-won on second playoff hole
Senior Net
Freddie Sarno earned his first SNGA title, posting a four-stroke victory in the Senior Net Division. Over the two days, Sarno had two net eagles and 10 net birdies over the 36 holes.
“I just played steady,” Sarno said of his victory. “I drove the ball in play and the length of the course was very user-friendly for my game.”
He said he thought two bad shots he hit, a pair of OB shots on No. 12 on Sunday, almost dampened his weekend. “I took a 9 on the hole and thought my hopes and dreams went away after that hole but nobody made much of a run at me,” he said.
Senior Net
Freddie Sarno, 68-72—140
Todd Sherman, 68-76—144
Bernard Strauss, 75-70—145
Silver Gross
It was also Frank Abbott’s fourth win in 2018, this one coming after a first-round stumble.
“(Sunday) was a lot better,” said Abbott, who now has 49 wins in his SNGA career. “The weather was much better. After we turned (Saturday), the winds were blowing 30-40 miles an hour with gusts to about 50. I actually almost got knocked down with one gust and almost whiffed the shot.”
The second day a stretch of three straight birdies on the back nine (11, 12 and 13) sealed the deal. Overall, Abbott posted six birdies on the day. “I played pretty solid,” he said. “I just had one hiccup (a double bogey on No. 4) so it was a good day.”
But there were a couple of anxious moments. “Mark Dopheide got within two after 10 so I said to myself ‘let’s birdie the next two’ and I actually birdied the next three,” Abbott said.
Now he’s got his sights set on his next victory. “My next goal is to win one more and get to 50 wins,” he said. “This was No. 49.”
Silver Gross
Frank Abbott, 77-71—148
Mark Dopheide, 78-79—157
Neil Driscoll, 83-77—160
Silver Net
David Kim won his second SNGA event of the year. The 77-year-old from South Korea rallied from a three-stroke deficit after the first round to win by three.
He had a net 68 in the second round, posting five net birdies with a lone bogey that saw him improve by eight strokes.
Silver Net
David Kim, 76-68—144
John Kelley, 73-74—147
AL Kueker, 80-71—151
