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Clark scores 6-stroke win in Invitational By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN Glen Clark opened the second round of the Players Invitational golf tournament with a share of the lead. When the 45-year-old Clark birdied the first hole of the second round Sunday at Quail Point Golf Course, he was on his way to a run-away victory. Clark, the 1998 Medford City Championships victor, put his game in cruise control over the final 17 holes as the contenders for the title turned into pretenders. "I was a little surprised that the leaders all fell off in the last round," said Clark. "I just tried to play solid golf and make pars." Clark added a birdie at the fifth hole, making a 15-foot putt, to stretch his lead to four shots over first-round co-leader Ken Hernandez. Clark rolled home from there with a 2-over-par 72 that gave him a six-stroke win over Brooks Newsom and Brett Breeze. Clark finished 36 holes with a 1-over-par 141 in wet, soft conditions caused by heavy rains. "Actually, the course was in pretty good shape, considering all the rain (Saturday) night," said Clark. "I was pretty happy with how I played, and I hope this win is a sign of things to come." Quail Point head professional Steve Pellegrine told the players before the second round they would be playing summer rules (play the ball as it lies), which made the soft course play harder, Clark said. "It made a good course tougher," said Clark. "I was glad Steve decided to do that. The course held up well enough to do it. "I only had two bad lies all day, and both of them were my fault for the drives I hit on them," said Clark. Newsom, the 1998 Southern Oregon Golf Tournament champion, shot a final-round 72 to finish at 147, along with Breeze, who also shot a 72 Sunday. Justin Wise, son of Rogue Valley Country Club head professional Jim Wise, tied Jay Klemp for fourth-place at 149. Hernandez, who shot 69 in the first round, labored to an 81 on Sunday. "Kenny had a hard time getting his game going," said Clark. "That's how golf is some days. "We're all pretty much recreational golfers, and you never know what might happen at this time of year, especially when the course is wet," said Clark. Scott Tuttle finished at 151 and Stan Reiter and Brad Bills were at 154. Tom O'Donnell won the low net division with a 140 score. Dave Boals was second at 143. FINAL RESULTS PAR 70 1, Glen Clark 69-72--141, $300; 2, Brooks Newsom 75-72--147, $210; 3, Brett Breeze 75-72--147, $175; 4, Justin Wise 75-74--149, $150; 5, Jay Klemp 74-75--149, $125; 6, Ken Hernandez 69-81--150, $100. NET DIVISION 1, Tom O'Donnell 71-69--140, $200; 2, Dave Boals 71-72--143, $100. OTHER SCORES Scott Tuttle 77-74--151, Stan Reiter 79-75--154, Brad Bills 74-80--154, Dave Reugg 80-75--155, Fred Steele 80-75--155, Bryan Schlafke 76-80--156, Russ Saxton 76-80--156, Bob Cox 81-75--156. Mark DeBoer 80-77--157, Steve Wood 72-85--157, Mike Austin 80-80--160, Dan Dixon 85-77--162, Paul Winterbottom 83-82--165, Nick Karrick 81-84--165, Mike Atwood 87-81--168, Bill Kuhlwein 79-90--169. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA