Joplin takes leads in Smith, Laffoon contests

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Related Photos

Globe/B.W.Shepherd Terry Key tees off on the 9th green in the Laffoon Tournament at Twin Hill Golf Course on Saturday, August 11, 2012.
Globe/B.W.Shepherd Keith Phillips and Chad Walker look over a put on the 9th green in the Laffoon Tourney at Twin Hill Golf Course on Saturday, August 11, 2012.
Globe/B.W.Shepherd Chad Walker sinks a long putt on the 9th green in the Laffoon Tournament at Twin Hill Golf Course on Saturday, August 11, 2012.
Globe/B.W.Shepherd Frank Jacobs chips over a water barrier onto the 7th green in the Laffoon Tournament at Twin Hill Golf Course on Saturday, August 11, 2012.

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August 11, 2012

Joplin takes leads in Smith, Laffoon contests

By Jim Henry Globe Sports Editor The Joplin Globe Sat Aug 11, 2012, 10:57 PM CDT

Joplin’s 6-2 lead over Springfield after Saturday’s doubles play in the Horton Smith Cup Match at Briarbrook Golf Course caught a lot of people by surprise.

That group includes Joplin team captain Bill Curry.

“I have to say I am really surprised,” Curry said. “The scores on our qualifying were mostly pretty high. I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out. Hopefully (today) we can bring it home.”

Joplin also grabbed the lead 5-3 in doubles action at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club in the Ky Laffoon Cup Match for players age 50 and older.

The players switch courses for today’s 16 singles matches, starting at 11 a.m. at both courses. Springfield has possession of both cups after home victories in 2011.

Joplin won five matches and halved two others in the Horton Smith doubles.

Mark Bruder-Jeremy Harbaugh won the day’s shortest match, a 5 and 4 decision over Chris Curry-Chad Connor, and Cody Berry-Evan Wood combined to make nine birdies in a 4 and 3 victory over Judd Easterling-Tim Holmes.

Steven May-Mike Leone won 2 and 1 over Dan O’Connell-Mike Krone, and Joplin received 1-up victories from Todd Stout-Ben Starkey over Nate Angus-Sonny Dodson and Curry and partner Shawn Platner over Ross Laney-Luke Heisterberg.

Curry took a longer route on the par-5 15th hole for a birdie to halve the hole.

“My second shot ended up on No. 16 tee box,” Curry said. “I hit a flop shot over a tree to within six feet and made the putt.”

Joplin’s Aaron Borland-Steve McKenzie led their match 1-up through 16 holes, but Springfield’s Derek Reynolds and Chuck Greene won the last two holes — including a chip-in for eagle-2 on 17 — to pull out a victory.

The last two matches finished all square — Joplin’s Tug Baker-Dustin Edge vs. Jamie Hathcock-Scott Whittaker and Kevin Jamros-Eric Jamros vs. Sean Crayton-Clayton Moles. The Jamros brothers rallied from a 2-down deficit at the turn to earn their halve.

The Ky Laffoon doubles matches had some down-to-the-wire finishes.

Long-time partners Jim Lucas-Lou Rapalino won 1-up over Dave McQuerter-Matt Barner when Lucas made a birdie on the last hole to earn a halve.

Springfield’s Don Johnson-Eugene Robinette birdied the last two holes for a 1-up victory over brothers Dave and Dan Tourtelot.

Joplin claimed two more 1-up victories — Tim Old-Les Taylor over Gary Frazier-Mike Baird and Doug Harvey-Frank Jacobs over Roy Cirillo-Mike Henderson. Bob McKay-Dave Mertens prevailed 5 and 3 over Calvin Budd-Don Stevens.

Springfield’s Parker Morgan-Greg McCord won 2 and 1 over Keith Phillips-Chad Walker.

Two matches ended in halves — Joplin’s Jim Weaver-Terry Key vs. Terry Myers-Jim Hoovens and Chas Zulkowski-Homer Wilson vs. Jordan Needham-Ken Brumley after Needham-Brumley birdied 15, 16 and 17 to erase a three-hole deficit.

“There were some good matches from what I’ve been told,” said Harvey, the Joplin captain. “Our match with Roy and Mike went back and forth all day long. We were 2-down after three holes, and we ended up coming back and were 2-up with four holes left. They got it back to one, and Frankie made a 40-footer on 16 to tie them, and we tied them on the last two holes to win 1-up.

“Any time you can be up after doubles, you can’t complain about that,” Harvey said. “I have a feeling (Sunday) is going to be close because all the matches were fairly close. All but two went down to the 18th hole.”