OVGA Amateur Golf Tour

There were a few incorrect HCPs on the cards today caused by some players who have not played 5 OVGA rounds to date.  Because of that, we are using either USGA (if the player has it) or Callaway HCP (if the player does not have USGA).  Once a player has played 5 rounds on the OVGA, their OVGA HCP will kick in.  I apologize for any confusion and the scoring below is accurate.

In the Eagle Flight
Doug Chalk led for six holes on the front nine while a total of six players had a share of the lead over the first nine holes but it was Michael Bowen who took a one shot lead at +1, net 36 at the turn.  However, Michael Gaines would take the lead on the 10th hole, before Chalk wrangled it away on #11.  Gaines would grab the lead back on #13 before the field bunched up with five players sharing the lead after 14 holes (Gaines, Chalk, Bowen, Mark Murphy and Chris Mulligan) at +3, net 56.  After 15 holes, Gaines and Mulligan would drop a shot back and get no closer.  After 16 holes, Bowen would fall off the pace and three shots off the lead.  Murphy and Chalk would head to #18 tied at +1, net 67.  Murphy’s net par would give the Eagle flight it’s first non-Sam Melton winner of 2009 and for Murphy it would be win #5 in his OVGA career.

In the Birdie Flight
A few players, Phyllis Bare, Rick Lingo and Jim Cachat got hot early, but Rich Lakes took the lead on the 6th hole and made the turn at +1, net 36.  Rich Coleman would tie Lakes after 10 holes, but Lakes would begin to pull away, building a 3 shot lead thru 13 holes at E, net 49.  Bare closed to within a shot after 15 holes, but Lakes quickly extended his lead back to three shots after 16 holes and cruised to his first win of 2009 and his 3rd career OVGA Tour victory with an even par net 70.

In the Par Flight
Charles Johnson started the day going net eagle, net eagle, net birdie and had a five shot lead thru the first three holes before hanging on for a one shot lead at the turn at -5, net 30.  Frank Hill (-4), James Crockett (-3) and Steve Waterhouse (E) were also in the hunt after the first nine holes.  Johnson would build a three shot lead thru 13 holes, but James Crockett would pull within one after #14 and would take a one shot lead after #15 at -4, net 53.  But as quickly as Crockett took the lead, Waterhouse would snatch it away with a net double eagle on #16 to hold a one shot lead over Crockett and Hill.  Waterhouse’s net birdie on #17 gave him a two shot lead heading to the final hole.  But the pressure was too much as Waterhouse would post a net bogey and Johnson would finish with a net eagle to steal his first career OVGA Tour victory finishing at -6, net 64.

Congratulations to Mark Murphy, Rich Lakes and Charles Johnson on their victories at Sharon Woods.  Saturday’s event was the first round of the Great Parks Championship which is a 4-round tournament played at the four Hamilton County Park Courses this season (Sharon Woods, Vineyard, Miami Whitewater and Mill Course).  The player with the low net (no flights) for all four rounds will be named the winner.

Top 5 after Round 1
1.  Charles Johnson, -6, 64
2.  Steve Waterhouse, -5, 65
3.  Frank Hill, -2, 68
4.  James Crockett, -1, 69
5.  Rich Lakes, E, 70

Last season’s GPC Champion, Rich Coleman is 10 shots off the lead after a +4, 74 on Saturday.  Round 2 of the Great Parks Championship, is Sunday, May 17 at Vineyard.

CTP Winners - $32 - Skins will be announced tomorrow night

Eagle/Birdie Flight

#8 - Joe Wieland

#11 - Rich Lakes

Par Flight

#2 - Frank Kilgore (Bevans/Chalk were on the sheet but not Par flight players)

#8 - Anthony Eckinger