By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
Joplin’s seniors and Springfield’s juniors opened identical 6-2 leads Saturday during doubles matches in their annual cup golf matches at two Joplin courses.
Joplin’s Ky Laffoon team (ages 50 and older) took a four-point lead at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club with five victories and halves in two other matches.
Likewise, the Springfield Horton Smith team (49 and younger) won five matches and tied two others at Eagle Creek Golf Club.
The teams switch courses for today’s 16 singles matches, starting at 11 a.m.
“I think things just kind of went our way here today,” Joplin Ky Laffoon captain Mike Wheeler said. “But it’s only a third of the points. Two-thirds are on the line tomorrow, so we’re a bit shy of the promised land.”
Joplin’s Dave Tourtelot and John Gardner combined to make seven birdies in their 4 and 3 victory over Dick Luke and Walter Powell.
Other Joplin winners were Frank Jacobs-Tim Old (1 up), Les Taylor-Chad Walker (3 and 2), Lou Rapalino-Jim Lucas (4 and 2) and Jim Weaver-Mike Johnson (2 and 1).
The last two matches ended in ties — Joplin’s Larry Shelley-Dave Mertens vs. Ora Hostetler-Ben Smith and Nick LaForge-Keith Phillips vs. Dennis Wright-Larry Miller.
Gary Frazier-Jack Freeman posted Springfield’s point with a 3 and 1 victory over Mike Maier-Charlie Weems. And Maier-Weems combined to shoot par during the 17 holes.
“They were really close, contested matches,” Joplin captain Mike Wheeler said. “With the exception of maybe one, they all went to the wire. ... There was really some good play.”
In the Horton Smith matches, Paul Ashe-Mark Riley registered Joplin’s victory with a 2 and 1 decision over Mike Carroll-Tom Pearson. Ashe-Riley were 2-down at one point in the match, but they fired five birdies on the back nine — Nos. 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17 — to earn the victory.
Another strong finish saw Joplin’s Brian Smith birdie the last two holes, giving him and partner Brett Bailey a halve with Jeff Woods-Brad Bennett.
Joplin’s Brian Black-David Eddy halved their match with Andy Bartholomy-Jamie Hathcock as Springfield won the final hole with a par.
Springfield’s winning teams were Travis Atchley-Eric Evans, Nathan Fredrick-Tyler Stalker, Brad Nipper-Chris Baumhoer, Anisul Huq-Jayson Cox and Will Hogan-Chuck Greene.”
“I’m disappointed naturally,” Joplin Horton Smith captain Chris Newby said, “but all the matches were tight. We’ll be optimistic about tomorrow.
“On the golf course, everyone’s matches were going back and forth. Nobody was really getting more than 1-up on another team. We had a couple of teams fight back. Paul Ashe and Mark Riley were 2-down at one point and came back to win their match. Obviously Brian Smith and Brett Bailey, dormy after 16, to halve their match is good stuff. Springfield has a bunch of good golfers. The testament to that is Joplin hasn’t won that cup since 1992.”
Entering today’s matches, Joplin’s seniors and Springfield’s juniors need to earn six points to retain their respective cups.
“I look forward to these matches every year,” Newby said. “The Horton Smith and Ky Laffoon Cup matches are in my opinion the greatest event we have going on in Joplin area golf.”
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