Black back to defend golf title

May 10, 2008 01:03 am

— From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
Brian Black returns to defend his championship as the annual Joplin Globe City Championship opens today at Schifferdecker Municipal Golf Course.
Tee times start at 10 a.m. today, and the second round begins at 11:42 a.m. Sunday at Eagle Creek Bald Course (formerly Loma Linda).
The 72-hole event concludes next weekend with the third round on May 17 at Briarbrook Golf and Country Club and the final round on May 18 at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club.
Black, a member of the Twin Hills team, prevailed with a 296 total after rounds of 3-under-par 68 at Schifferdecker, 1-over 73 at Twin Hills, 8-over 79 at Loma Linda and 4-over 76 at Briarbrook.
Black owned a three-shot lead entering the final round but fell two strokes back with four holes to go.
But an uphill putt to save par on the par-3 16th at Briarbook and a tap-in birdie on 17 helped Black regain the lead.
Mark Riley finished second with 298 after rounds of 70-73-80-75 and was the only other player to break 300.
Multiple winner Lee Larimore was third at 301, one stroke in front of Chad Lind, Todd Pefferman and Bill Curry.
Briarbrook made a final-round charge on its home course to win the team championship with 1,804, followed by Twin Hills 1,815, Joplin Golf Club 1,834 and Loma Linda 1,838.
Women’s tournament
The Women’s City Championship also will be contested during the next two weekends.
Tee times start at noon today at Schifferdecker and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Eagle Creek.
Lyndsey Adams of Twin Hills won individual honors with 310 after posting four rounds in the 70s — 79 at Schifferdecker, 75 at Twin Hills and 78s at Loma Linda and Briarbrook.
Adams is not back to defend her title, but the remainder of last year’s top five return.
Missy Little, the 2006 city champion from Twin Hills, was second a year ago with 323, followed by Deb McFarland with 325, Leigh Ann Hackney with 340 and Pam Borland with 354.
Twin Hills is the defending team champion after a 1,359 total. Briarbrook had 1,379, Schifferdecker 1,459 and Loma Linda 1,552.