By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
Defending champion Garrett Logan capped a roller-coaster round with birdies on two of his last three holes Friday to grab the first-round lead in the 57th Twin Hills Invitational golf tournament.
Logan registered a 2-under-par 70 at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club to build a two-shot lead over Chris Patterson, David Byrne and Jerry Triska.
Gary Risner, the 1985 tournament champion, was tied for fifth at 1-over-par 73 with Todd Doss, Brad Watts and Tug Baker. A logjam at 74 included 2006 winner Bob Fouke, Shane Cowger, Mike Cutshall, David Hufferd, Lee Larimore, Scott Martin and Joe McKenzie.
Logan, a golfer and two-time academic All-American from Georgetown who is entering law school this month, matched par-36 on the back nine with birdies on Nos. 12 and 14 and bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17. He went birdie-bogey twice in the first five holes on the front nine before completed a 2-under 34 with birdies on the par-5 seventh hole and par-4 No. 9.
“Today was definitely up and down,” Logan said. “It seemed like every time I made a birdie, I would follow it up with a bogey. I made six birdies and four bogeys, three of which were three-putts.
“There are a lot of par-5s out here, five of them. I played them in even-par, which is pretty disappointing, especially with the fact I can reach all of them in 2. So I’m definitely looking at improving on that (today). I felt like I left probably a handful of shots out there today.
“But I’m not too disappointed,” Logan said. “I started out with 70 last year when I won, and I duplicated that score today. So I feel pretty good.”
Patterson’s round of 36-36 included three birdies and three bogeys, and Byrne shot 35-37 with two birdies — both on par 3s — and two bogeys.
Triska also shot nines of 35-37 and did not make a bogey, but his four birdies were offset by double bogeys on the par-3 No. 5 and par-4 No. 13.
After Friday’s round, tournament officials divided the field into three flights — Championship/President’s from 70-79, First/Second from 80-85 and Third/Fourth from 86 and above. Each of those flights will be split in half after today’s second round, creating six flights for Sunday’s final round.
In the Seniors Flight (ages 55 and up), Jim Weaver carded a 1-under-par 71 and owned a two-shot lead over Frank Jacobs. Weaver had three birdies and two bogeys in his round of 35-36, and Jacobs shot 38-35, highlighted by an eagle-2 on the 342-yard No. 13.
Bennie Crossland was third with 77, followed by Mike Robin 78 and Richard Patterson 79.
A tight battle in the Seniors President’s Flight has Gary Vernon, Mike Rogers and Mike Wheeler tied at 87, one shot in front of Bud Smith and David Straub.
The seniors’ 36-hole competition ends today.
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July 25, 2009
Defending champ's late birdies provide early lead at Twin Hills
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
- Both sides of border hope changes make easier entry into Canada
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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