By Rich Brown
rbrown@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — Jeff Corr said before going into the final 36 holes of the $200,000 Buffalo Run Casino Classic on Sunday that the toughest thing for him to do was follow up a great round with a good round.
The young Floridian’s great round came in the opening 18 holes of the NGA Hooters Pro Golf event on Thursday with a 10-under-par 62 at the Peoria Ridge course near Miami. But the last three rounds weren’t too bad either.
In fact, they were good enough to get him the championship with a 30-under-par 258 and a winning margin of three strokes over Parker LeBarge, St. Louis, and Brett Myers of Broken Arrow. LeBarge even had the fourth-round low score of 62 to put a little more pressure on Corr, who went on the tour three years ago out of college.
Corr maintained a relentless pace, assuring his lead in every round. He opened with a one-stroke edge over Joey Lamielle, Sarasota, Fla.; Matthew Anderson, Edina, Minn.; and Daniel Vojta, Palatine, Ill.
He shot 64 on Saturday to give him an 18-under-par 126 and five-stroke lead after the first two rounds. He repeated his Saturday score for the first 18 holes Sunday to take a three-stroke lead over Myers, going into the final round, which he finished at 68.
His win did not come without a little anxiety on the final hole, however. After hitting a tee shot straight down the fairway, he landed his second shot into the bunker.
“The only thing I was thinking about was just get it out of the bunker and I hoped the board was correct that I only needed a two-putt to win,” he said. “I have had maybe three or four top 20 finishes and a couple of top 10s this year but this is the first time for me to win outside the winter series on the tour.”
The sixth annual tournament opened with 168 players, including three amateurs. The field was cut to the lowest 60 scorers, plus ties, after the first two rounds. The second round that had originally been scheduled for Friday was postponed until Saturday due to heavy thunderstorms, forcing the third and fourth rounds of 18 holes each to be played Sunday.
Ryan Henry, former University of Tulsa ace who tied the course record with his 11-under-par 61 Saturday, had a third-round score of 65 and carded a 66 in the fourth round to finish 263, which gave him a fourth-place tie with last year’s champion, Jordan Dempsey of Baton Rouge, La.
The toughest task for Henry was having to make up for his opening round of 71.
“After that first round, to make the move that I did, I don’t have any complaints,” he said.
Henry tied the record held by another Oklahoman, Chris James, of Edmond. James’ 61 came in 2005 in the third round of the Buffalo Run championship. James, after opening with a 68, had scores of 69-66-65 to finish with 268 Sunday in a four-way tie for eighth.
David Skinns from England, the leading money winner going into this week’s tourney, finished in a three-way tie for 17th with a score of 270.
Robert Russell, a Joplin High School graduate and well-known area golfer, wound up play Saturday with a 1-under-par 143. Others from the area, also completing play Saturday, were Boyd Downey, Carl Junction, with 152; and amateurs Seth Rhodes, Miami, 156; and Bryce Rowe, Baxter Springs, 159.
Corr took home the first-place prize of $33,566.
Sports
Related Photos
Discussion
Corr cruises to Classic title
- Sports
-
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.
-
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.
-
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.
-
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
-
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
