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Survival of the fittest Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman Justin Wise bows his head after missing his put for par on the final hole of his round against Tommy Smith. Top golfers display plenty of grit in Saturday's third round By TIM PYLE As opposed to beating an entire field, match play necessitates the besting of only one opponent at a time. So survival is what match play - and thus, the Southern Oregon Golf Tournament - is all about. Two-time defending champion Tommy Smith and second-year SOGT participant Dave Schoenmann both displayed gritty staying power in the third round of men's championship flight play Saturday at Rogue Valley Country Club. Smith took the 18th hole to gain a 1-up victory on up-and-comer Justin Wise, while Schoenmann eliminated 1998 champion Brooks Newsom, also by a 1-up score. In quarterfinal action this morning, Smith faces Carl Johnsen (a 5-and-4 winner over Eric Austad), and Schoenmann tees off against Gary Loeb (5-and-3 over Ian Parent). Smith-Johnsen play along with Bret Breeze (2-and-1 over Scott Tuttle) and Ryan Schaefer (1-up over Kelly Owen) beginning at 9 a.m. Schoenmann-Loeb are joined by Kevin Klabunde (5-and-4 over David Boals) and Doug Olson (5-and-4 over Ted Stark) at 9:10 a.m. Survivors will have to wipe their brows and get back at it almost immediately, as the men's semifinals tee off this afternoon at 2:30 and 2:35 p.m. Although Smith extended his SOGT unbeaten streak to 21 Saturday, it was no gimme. Through 13 holes, the former University of Oregon golfer had a 3-up edge on the 20-year-old Wise, son of RVCC head pro Jim Wise. From there, Justin Wise rallied by claiming hole Nos. 14, 16 and 17. "He showed a lot of guts, especially for a young kid," said Smith, who has known Wise since he was a toddler. "A whole lot of times you see somebody that gets three down with four or five to go, they get down on themselves, almost give up. He surely didn't. There was no quit in him at all." Tied with a hole to play, Wise and Smith both drove straight down the 18th fairway and chipped to the near edge of the green. Wise left his birdie putt well short, while Smith guided his just to the right of the cup. Needing a par to force sudden death, Wise rimmed out his putt on the left side. "I thought I made it," said Wise, competing in his third SOGT. "When I struck it, I was like, 'That's in.'" Schoenmann, participating in his second SOGT, won hole Nos. 11-13 to rally from a 1-hole deficit and forge a 2-up advantage against Newsom. On 15, Schoenmann's edge was cut in half but Newsom missed an opportunity to pull even by three-putting the 16th. Then Schoenmann protected his lead by taking a conservative approach on the final two holes. "When you're one or two up with two holes left, he's gotta make a birdie to beat ya," Schoenmann said. "So you make sure you make par. " To even be in that position was a refreshing change for Schoenmann, who described last year's SOGT debut as "played two and barbecued." Other Saturday highlights included Mike Austin's 2-up win over defending champ Bob Harrell in the senior men's division; Dave Wittkopf's 1-up junior/senior victory against 2000 winner Doug Ward; and the advancing of Carmen Akins, Luneta ah Sam, Johnna Nealy and Reena Eklund to the women's championship semifinals. The junior/senior semis tee off at 9:20 a.m. today, with the seniors beginning at 9:30 and the women at 9:40. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.