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GOLF Starting strong Wood, Davis, Wilson shoot 69s as SOGC qualifying begins Comment By Tim Trower Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 2, 2015 at 2:00 AM By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 2, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News It might come as a surprise to learn which shot Steve Wood appreciated most while going low in the qualifying round of the Southern Oregon Golf Championships Tuesday. The 100-yard wedge he dunked for an eagle 2 on the second hole? Nope. It was the putt from off the green on No. 18 that saved bogey. “That was the putt of the day,” he grinned after shooting a 3-under 69, one of a trio of players to do so on the first day of the 86th annual event at Rogue Valley Country Club. Local men qualified on Tuesday, and women and out-of-town men do so today. Match play is Thursday through Monday. The three with 69s —Wood in the men’s senior division and Mark Wilson Jr. and Max Davis in the men’s regular division — and the others who lead their divisions after Tuesday will wait out today’s play to see if their scores hold up for medalist honors. Other division leaders are Todd Dixon in the men’s junior-senior and Doug Olson in the men’s super senior, both with 71s. Wood, who recently won the RVCC club championship and on Sunday placed second in the Rogue Valley Stroke Play Championships at Centennial Golf Club, is attempting to become medalist for the first time in the SOGC. “I’ve been real close, but never medalist,” he said. His previous best qualifying round was a 71 two years ago, but it fell three shots shy of top qualifier Marty Morlan’s 68. At No. 18, Wood needed that last shot to fall to preserve his round in the 60s. His third shot, a chip from a fluffy lie, went long, and the comebacker was severely downhill, sending the ball off the front of the green. Then came the putt he called “pretty cool.” Before that, he said, “The par 5s were pretty good to me. I just never really got in trouble.” He birdied the par-5 eighth and 16th holes and had a birdie attempt on the par-5 12th travel around the rim of the cup before escaping. He also was pleased to have played the tough stretch of Nos. 8-13, which he referred to as RVCC’s version of “Amen Corner,” in 2 under. “Just keeping my driver in play” was a key, Wood added. “I’ve kind of been struggling with that a little bit.” When it came to eagles, Wilson wasn’t to be outdone. He had two, on the par-5 first and 12th holes. On the first hole, he hit 5-iron to the green and made a 45-foot putt that broke about 3 feet right. “I usually like to start this tournament with a bogey or worse,” said Wilson, who is playing in it for the 11th time. “To start off 2 under is a momentum builder. It helps you hit more aggressive shots and stay positive.” On the 12th hole, he blasted what he believes is the best drive he’s hit on the dogleg right, cutting the corner and leaving only about 200 yards to the green. Another 5-iron put him at the front, and he drained what he guessed to be a 65-foot putt. That got him to 4 under, but a bogey on No. 13 dropped him back. When he missed a short birdie putt on No. 16, he felt like it was opportunity lost. Wilson shot 69 in qualifying last year, but it was lost in the buzz created by playing partner Jimmy White, who set a course record with a 60. “I had a gut feeling 68 would be the number,” he said, of what it might take to be medalist this time around. “I thought it would put me in really good contention to potentially be low. One putt and I’m right there.” Putting wasn’t an issue for Davis, who for his second straight round made six birdies. He made a half-dozen in a junior tournament in Boise, Idaho, Sunday. Davis just turned 18 and is in his first SOGC. As a junior, he was instrumental in helping Cascade Christian claim the Class 3A/2A/1A high school state championship last spring, placing third individually. “I was really nervous out there,” he said, noting that playing with a couple friends, Reese Fisher and David Murphy, motivated him to do well and eased the tension. “You just have to stay calm. I didn’t think I’d make this many birdies. I just tried to forget about making birdies and just went one shot at a time.” He got to 1 under at No. 3, but two bogeys in the next three holes knocked him back. Frustrated, he took it out on the next series of holes. Davis birdied Nos. 7, 8, 9 and 10, parred 11, then birdied 12 to get to 4 under. “I putted really well today,” said Davis, who parred the final five holes after bogeying No. 13. “Every putt I had, I got the reads right and the speed.” White and Ethan Devore had the next-best rounds in the men’s regular with 72s. Men’s Regular Max Davis 69, Mark Wilson 69, Jimmy White 72, Ethan Devore 72, David Murphy 73, Reese Fisher 74, Bryan Wheelock 74, Kevin Blum 75, Tyler Swinton 76, Matt Eschenbacher 76, Taylor Klemp 77, Benjamin Wright 77, Ryan Suvoy 79, Brandon Chun 80, Orette Facey 80, Justin Wise 81, Craig Smith 81, Trevor Telford 81, Benny Shapiro 83, Ryan Kantor 84, Curtis Wagoner 85, Sam Garner 85, Matt Stringer 85, Taylor Webb 85, Scott Weiland 85, Jonny Curtrght 85, Eric Pederson 86, Joey Walker 86, Eric Linerud 86, Morgan Hawkins 86, Blake Batlett 86, David Mayer 86. Jeff Barry 87, Mike Snowden 87, Michael Payne 87, Kelly Green 87, Eric Englebach 87, Alfonso Powers 88, Alex Brown 89, John Keyser 90, Matt Johnson 90, Brandt Cullen 90, Mark McLine 91, Jacob Gooding 94, Jordan Anderson 95, Andy Viets 95, Dylan Schwarm 96, Charles Day 97, Josh Godfrey 98, Ben Running 98, Jason Hanlin 99, Darren Bruhns 100, Mitchell Reagles 100, Jeremy Ross 101, Jason Rowan 101, Tanner Lawton 101, Robert Lindbloom 102, Darrell Thompson 104, Shawn Shumate 106, Shane Maclauchlin 107. Junior Senior Men Todd Dixon 71, Marty Morlan 72, Brent Barr 73, Bobby Foote 76, Eddie Bostwick 77, Rick Jackson 77, Tom Pepple 78, Kevin Dixon 78, Craig Knips 78, Brandon Crosier 79, Darrell Flora Jr. 79, David Card 79, Dan Westbrook 80, Bret Breeze 80, Todd Couch 82, Dennis Richards 83, David Simms 83, Rob Neff 84, Gordon Humphrey 84, David Culbertson 84, John Quinones 84, Kevin Jones 84, Greg Jacobs 85, Joe Davis 85, Jake Rockwell 85, Daniel Trenholm 86, Todd Ostensson 87. Tony Nieto 88, Richard Warner 88, Rick Hutchins 89, Joe Arnesen 89, Johnny Mansfield 89, Keith Lallo 89, Anthony Kell 90, Michael Webb 90, Ian Powers 91, Darron Morelaw 92, Joe Bowles 92, Jack Lewis 93, Ron Stranahan 93, Ron Harvey 94, Phillip Heiner 95, Ed Lindbloom 95, Scott Vanway 95, Rick Dyer 97, Brian Carr 97, James Figueroa 99, John Couch 100, Kevin Primerano 104. Senior Steve Wood 69, Brad Bills 71, Jerry Eklund 73, Kevin Klabunde 73, Phil Iantosca 74, Bob Cox 74, Bob Dickey 75, Marshall Holman 76, Stephen Watkins 76, Steve Boldish 77, John Justin 77, Steve Lovich 77, Billy Crenshaw 78, Eric Austad 79, Ken Stringer 79, David Street 80, Rob Wieland 80, Doug Hartley 80, Brian Adolph 81, Jim Overmeyer 81, Art Ariles 81, Jim Morns 81, Mitch Mossary 82, Neil Smith 82, Evan McArthur 82, Patrick Daggitt 83, Salvador Murillo 83, John Buda 84, Jim Hatton 85, Charlie Tissen 85, Brian Schmitz 85, Doug Engle 85, Mark Weiss 85, Tim Trower 86, Terry Buntin 86, John Adair 86. William Milamuke 87, Jerry Johnson 87, Melvin Friend 87, John Lawton 87, Buck Brigham 88, Mark Pagan 88, OJ Endicott 88, Michael Goldman 88, Scott Weaver 88, Ron Hobson 88, Raymond Smith 89, Bill Alan 89, Jeffrey Blum 91, Troy Alexander 91, Walt Packard 92, Frank Lucas 93, Dan Kosmatka 93, Jim McCube 94, Les Cracraft 96, Lee Fortier 96, Alex Romanonsky 97, Dave Smith 98, JW Lyon 99, Darrell Flora Sr. 100, George Kaczor 101, Mike Snyder 103, John George 103, Scott Lubich 106. Super Senior Doug Olson 71, Greg Miller 76, Chris Littleton 76, George Mack 76, Tom Hamlin 79, Bob Harrell 80, Craig Galpern 81, Gary Bates 81, Bill Drewien 82, Dick Entinger 83, Bob Thiessen 83, Michael Miller 84, Larry Garvin 85, Mike Armitage 85, Al Raduski 86, Terry Anderson 86, Gordon Beckwith 86, Ron Primasing 87, Tom Tarlow 87, Ron Dixon 87, Ron Lewis 88. Steven Warrington 90, Arn Wihtol 91, Larry Schmaltz 91, David Rasmusson 91, John Jensen 92, Bob Doolen 92, Tim Wray 93, Jim Quincey 93, Dick Brekke 93, Dennis Ramsden 95, John Kruesi 95, Tom Michaels 96, Bernie Fraser 96, Bob Crews 98, David Runyon 98, Herb Malone 101, Donald Young 102, Pete Puljan 102. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 541-776-4479, or email [email protected] By Tim Trower Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 2, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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