Twin Hills holds one-stroke lead

Sports

Discussion

May 19, 2007

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Sat May 19, 2007, 11:35 PM CDT

By Zach Ewing

zewing@joplinglobe.com

Lee Larimore grew up within a good tee shot of Loma Linda Country Club.

He’s since moved away but returned Saturday for Moving Day of the 2007 Joplin Globe City Championship to help Briarbrook zoom up the leader board.

Larimore rebounded from a double bogey on No. 1 to shoot a 1-over-par 72, best in the tournament’s third round, to pull Briarbrook within a stroke of Twin Hills in the team race.

“Loma Linda is a tough course,” Larimore said. “The shape of Loma Linda today, you’ve got to be able to move the ball. I think Loma Linda makes a person a better player.

“I grew up around here, and I think that’s the reason I played well today.”

Twin Hills’ Brian Black extended his individual lead to three strokes. He shot 79 on a day when many leaders struggled and has a 6-over total of 220 heading into the final round, which begins at 10 a.m. today at Briarbrook in Carl Junction.

Mark Riley of Joplin Golf Club, who entered the round two shots behind Black, shot an 80 but remains in sole possession of second place with a 223.

Defending champion Larimore and Bill Curry and Mike Maier, both of Loma Linda, are in a tie for third at 225.

“I’m going to go out (today) and try to make a ton of birdies,” Larimore said. “I’m not going to hold anything back. And if I shoot 5-under and I don’t win, I still played pretty good.”

After his 6 on the par-4 first hole, Larimore rattled off 11 consecutive pars before sticking his second shot within five inches of the hole on No. 13 and tapping in for birdie. He bogied the 14th but birdied No. 16 and finished with two pars.

“Lots of pars today,” said Larimore, who entered the day 12 strokes behind Black. “I set out today to shoot 67. I haven’t had any breaks, all three rounds.”

Today, Larimore and his Briarbrook teammates will have a home-course advantage for the final round. This past Sunday, Twin Hills rode that edge to better Briarbrook by 14 strokes and take an 885-897 lead into Saturday.

But Briarbrook shot a 459 at Loma Linda, giving it a three-day total of 1,356. Twin Hills’ 466 made its total 1,355. And the race won’t necessarily end with those two. Joplin Golf Club is third, 15 strokes behind Twin Hills, and Loma Linda is just eight strokes beyond that.

Although Twin Hills’ top four players shot their worst rounds of the tournament Saturday, the club’s depth helped it stay in the lead. Travis Sainsbury, who entered with Twin Hills’ eighth-lowest score, shot 74 to lead the squad. Ashley Roberson added a 75 to 79s from Black and Jimmy Weaver and an 81 from Scott Mitchell. Todd Pefferman and Chris Patterson each shot 82 to round out the team’s scoring.

After Larimore’s 72, Briarbrook scored with Les Taylor’s 75, 77s from Chad Lind and Tim Old and 79s from Steve McKenzie and Andy Pochik.

For Joplin Golf Club, Tyler Smith shot 74, Jeff Murphy 75, Riley Snyder 77, Riley 80 and Chad Walker 81.

Loma Linda’s scoring was: Dan Tourtelot 76, Curry 77, Maier, Shawn Plattner and Carl Sappington 78 and Michael Arrowood 79.

“I think home course is going to make a little bit of an advantage,” Larimore said. “The greens at Briarbrook are pretty fast, and you’ve got to know where to put the ball and where to miss your shots. I think we’ve got a good shot.”

Text Only

Volunteers from Tuscaloosa paying it forward in Joplin

Sports

Search Results

Discussion

Twin Hills holds one-stroke lead

One of the first bills that Gov. Jay Nixon has signed into law this year is one that redirects casino fees to nursing homes for military veterans. Do you think this is a good bill?

Site Map

Contact Us