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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us May 10, 2005 Ashland golfers hanging with the big boys Salmond leads the way as Grizzlies trail only Roseburg after first day of district tournament By Don Hunt For the Tidings EAGLE POINT — With their young-looking faces and rail-thin physiques, the Ashland High varsity golf team isn’t imposing. But don’t be fooled. The Grizzlies, who took more lumps than a washed-up boxer last season, can hang with the big boys. One year after finishing dead last in the Southern Oregon Conference district tournament, Ashland finds itself in strong contention for a title. Sophomore Joel Salmond and junior Greg Harvey each shot 7-over-par 79s on a chilly, windy Monday at Eagle Point Golf Course in leading the Grizzlies to a 323 total after the opening round of play. The Grizz trails two-time defending champion Roseburg by just two strokes entering today’s final 18 holes. The Indians are a virtual lock to claim one of the SOC’s two berths to the Class 4A state tournament because they entered the district affair with a 50-stroke lead generated during five regular-season events. The overall champion and the highest district finisher collect the team state berths. The top seven individuals also advance. Roseburg forged the first-day lead even though its No.1 and No. 2 two golfers — senior Marc Goodell and sophomore Graham Aviles — were suspended for driving electric carts last Friday at Roseburg Country Club. Using carts at the club is a violation of team rules. North Medford’s Mike Barry and Roseburg’s Marc Polotai each shot 3-over 75s Monday to share the individual lead. The Grizzlies would love to win the tournament, but a runner-up performance behind Roseburg would still qualify them for a trip to state May 16-17 at Stone Creek Golf Club near Oregon City. “When you consider how much they struggled last year and how young they still are, it’s amazing what they’re doing,” said Ashland coach John Skinner, noting that the Grizzlies are made up of three sophomores (Salmond, Ben Wright and Austin Harfst) and two juniors (Harvey and Will Murphy). “We don’t have any superstars, just a group of ham-and-eggers that’s gotten better each week.” Salmond, who finished Monday’s round birdie-par-birdie, said the Grizzlies are a tight-knit bunch that has fun each time it takes the course. “We get together every week and play poker,” Salmond said. “We’re friends on and off the course. I think we’re more mature than last year and we’ve worked to improve our (golf) games, but more than anything, we’re just out there having fun.” Salmond struggled to a 7-over 43 on the front nine and then took a bogey on the 10th hole. He was in danger of taking another bogey — or worse — on the 403-yard, par-4 11th when he hooked his driver into a hazard. After taking a penalty stroke and a drop, Salmond hit a 3-iron 195 yards onto the green, then drilled a 40-foot putt to save par. He shot 1 under the rest of the way. “My round really changed on the 11th hole,” Salmond said. “I was just trying to get close to the green with my 3-iron and just trying to get close to the hole with the long putt. Sometimes you need a hole like that to get you going.” Barry, the pre-tournament favorite, tamed the opening nine holes in 3-under 33 and looked to be on his way to a round in the 60s. But he hit three balls into hazards on the 498-yard, par-5 12th hole, took a quadruple-bogey 9 and limped home with a 75. “I had bogeyed the previous hole and was trying to get that shot back,” Barry said. “I had the wind behind me and was thinking I’d get on (the green) in two and be putting for eagle.” Instead, Barry hooked his driver into a hazard. After taking a drop, he hit his 5-iron short of the green and into another hazard, then chunked his sand wedge into yet another off-limits area. “I let the first bad shot carry over — I was just throwing shots away,” Barry said. “It’s really disappointing because my mental toughness has gotten so much better this year. “The good thing for me was nobody else played that well, either. I’ve got another day to regroup.” Grants Pass’ Mike Leonard is in third place individually with a 76. Salmond, Harvey and South Medford’s Brodie Sullivan are tied for fourth with 79s. The Cavemen are third as a team with 330 strokes — seven in back of Ashland. North Medford is fourth with 333 and South Medford fifth with 336. ROSEBURG (321) — Marc Polotai 37-38—75; Derek Rampersand 39-41—80; McKenzie Gordon 47-36—82; Sean Jovin 44-40—84; Craig Rampersaud 46-43—89. ASHLAND (323) — Joel Salmond 43-36—79; Ben Wright 42-47—89; Greg Harvey 39-40—79; Austin Harfst 41-41—82; Will Murphy 44-39—83. GRANTS PASS (330) — Andy Maphet 44-43—87; Calen Nicholson 40-44—84; Nick Gates 42-41—83; Mike Leonard 37-39—76; D.J. Ingledue 49-51—100. NORTH MEDFORD (333) — Mike Barry 33-42—75; Christian Bernard 46-45—91; John Clarke 41-44—85; Nick Taylor 39-43—82; Jon Cartwright 47-45—92. SOUTH MEDFORD (336) — Nick Nieto 43-39—82; Brodie Sullivan 39-40—79; Mike Nieto 45-43—88; Ryan Mort 47-43—89; Alex Mueller 45-42—87. EAGLE POINT (370) — Trevor Lopez 51-46—97; Josh Dale 44-44—88; Steven Lindstrom 48-40—88; Brian Lew 52-45—97; Chris Holcomb 62-56—62-56—118. KLAMATH UNION (393) — Carter Mast 50-47—97; Micky Monti 46-44—90; Scott Roberts 46-55—101; Allen Monti 53-70—123; Ron Cornelison 54-51—105. Don Hunt is a reporter for the Medford Mail Tribune. To comment on this article, contact Sports Editor Joe Zavala at 482-3456 ext. 3020 or joe.zavala@ dailytidings.com DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Free Musick Downloads Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks Heloc Calenders 2005 Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress tcg student loan consolidation Home Equity Loans teleconferencing W2 Forms cortisol weight loss Diamonds Paris Hilton Mesothelioma Free Home-Loan Referrals Tatoos Website Design & Marketing Student Loans African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems Helzberg Diamonds Currancy Exchange Online Casinos Community Student Loans Tatoo Poker Games Homeschooling Auto Insurance Mortgage Calculator Mailing Lists Payday Loans Click Here .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams