Tournament Of Champions Brings Out Best to Bear’s Best
Welcome to the SNGA’s version of Battle of the Stars. Many of Southern Nevada’s top amateur men and women golfers faced off in the SNGA’s Tournament of Champions at Bear’s Best Golf Club held Jan. 22, 2018. — By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
In all, 55 golfers teed it up chasing the first SNGA titles of the year.
Championship
Daren Johnson, the defending Nevada State Amateur champion, kept up his winning ways in posting a one-shot victory in the Championship Division.
“It was the first time I had played the course so I’m happy with the way I played,” said Johnson, who recently completed an MBA in marketing and is moving to Laughlin. “I just tried to stay in the moment…which is sometime easier said than done.”
He added that not having played the course before forced him to concentrate more on a game plan. “I just tried to play it to spots where I felt comfortable with yardages in to greens and I putted pretty well.”
Championship
Daren Johnson, 73
Kenny Ebal, 74
Edward Fryatt, 74
Net
Eduardo Ramirez used a strong chipping game to come away with a two-shot victory in the Net Division.
Ramirez, a table games dealer at Aria, worked the late shift on Sunday night and finished up work at 2 a.m. Despite a lack of sleep, a pair of chip-ins helped him to the win.
“I really struggled on the front and didn’t have focus early,” he said. “But I got it back and with two chip-ins from 20 or 30 feet, it really helped.”
He said winning came as a shock. “I was just amazed that I won,” he said. “There are so many good golfers out here and to win is just a great feeling.”
Net
Eduardo Ramirez, 74
Nate Ross, 76
Todd McDevitt, 76
Senior Gross
For Frank Acker, it was definitely an up-and-down round of 2-under-par 70. Acker posted seven birdies and five bogeys to win the Senior Gross crown.
He said the obvious difference was his putting. “I putted real well,” he said. “My ball-striking was OK.”
Acker was three-under his first five holes and also had a run of three straight birdies later in the round.
“I didn’t really expect to play well and it was just a very good round,” Acker said.
Senior Gross
Frank Acker, 70
Joe Rada, 80
James Corey, 84
Senior Net
Todd Roberts’ chase of Frank Acker in the Senior Division came up just short, but he still came away with the net title.
“I played good but Frank (Acker) was just on fire,” Roberts said. “It was good to shoot and good score and play a solid round of golf.”
Senior Net
Todd Roberts, 73
Charles Roy, 78
Donald Klier, 78
Silver Gross
Cyrus Whitney’s even-par 72 was good enough for a four-stroke win in the Silver Gross division.
Whitney’s round consisted of five birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey. Second went to Kevin Parrish.
“I just had a nice day on the course,” Whitney said. “I made some birdies and made a few bogeys. I knew around even par would be a good score on that course.”
Whitney added the layout at Bear’s Best was impressive.
“The golf course suited me and I did hit the ball pretty well,” he said. “Overall, it was just a solid round of golf.”
Silver Gross
Cyrus Whitney, 72
Kevin Parrish, 76
Neil Driscoll, 79
Silver Net
John Kelley was as surprised as anyone in winning the Silver Net title.
“I hit the ball well, but I just didn’t make any putts,” Kelley said. “I didn’t have any birdies and had a double bogey so I never really thought about winning. But, I‘m super excited now.”
Silver Net
John Kelley, 72
Al Kueker, 73
Walter Sabati, 73
Women
Ronda Henderson overcame three double bogeys in posting a three-shot win in the women’s division.
“I had some nice par saves but it definitely wasn’t one of my better rounds,” Henderson said. “It was feast or famine. My putter was solid and my short game really saved me.”
Women
Ronda Henderson, 75
Regina Quintero, 78
Sherry Jackson, 80
