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90 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, May 25, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Biz Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 11, 2005 North’s Barry cards second SOC title By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT — Mike Barry wasn’t going to chalk up the win until the last putt fell. And when his half-wedge approach shot on the last hole did a one-hop-and-stop jig less than 2 feet from the cup, that detail was but a formality. Barry made the birdie putt to cap off in style his second Southern Oregon Conference boys golf championship Tuesday at Eagle Point Golf Course — and his first since his freshman year. The senior, who will play next year at the University of San Diego, shot a 2-under-par 70, pulling away from a game Marc Palotai of Roseburg over the final four holes. Barry had a two-day total of 145, besting Palotai’s 148. This bookend title by Barry was a long time coming, but it wasn’t unexpected. Advertisement What was unexpected was Ashland overtaking Roseburg and winning by one shot the district title. With three players in the 70s, led by Greg Harvey’s 76, Ashland edged the Indians by three shots on the day, 314 to 317. The title advances Ashland to state next week along with Roseburg, which claimed the overall conference title based on tournaments throughout the season. The top five individuals also advance to state next Monday and Tuesday at Stone Creek Golf Course in Oregon City. Joining Barry, Palotai and Harvey, who was third with a 155, were South Medford’s Brodie Sullivan (158) and Ashland’s Joel Salmond (158). After winning the 2002 district crown, Barry was disqualified his sophomore year and tied for second his junior year behind teammate Adam Browne. With his final stroke Tuesday came "relief," said Barry, "to finally get something you’ve worked for for a while. "It’s a good feeling, but now I’m just looking to carry something over to state and maybe see what that feels like." In two previous state appearances, Barry didn’t crack the top 10. But with a stroke average of 73.71 through the SOC tournament, his time might be at hand. In what seemed like a match-play confrontation, Barry and Palotai — the first-day leaders with 75s — took turns responding whenever the other threatened to take control. Starting on No. 10, Palotai took a one-stroke lead at the outset when Barry bogeyed the short par 4. It wasn’t until Barry made a nifty sand shot and one-putted for birdie at the par-5 No. 16 that he pulled even. One hole later, Barry drained a 25-foot, uphill birdie putt and thought he’d moved in front. But Palotai, on the same line but one step closer, followed in kind. Game on. Said North coach Kevin Klabunde, "I thought, ‘Wow, this is pretty impressive.’" With Barry occasionally bombing his drives 40 to 50 yards farther than his playing partners, it was an intriguing battle. He overpowered the course, only to misplay a couple of approach shots. Conversely, Palotai got up and down to save par several times and keep the pressure on. "He made a lot of great shots," said Barry. Both made the turn at 2 under, then got loose with their second shots on the ensuing two holes. Palotai managed to par the No. 2 to lead by one and force Barry’s hand. At the 182-yard third hole — their 12th — the Black Tornado standout knocked a 6-iron to 10 feet below the hole and sank the birdie putt to pull even. "I think that’s when I make my best golf shots, when I need to make them," said Barry. "On 10 and 11, I was right in the middle of the fairway and bogeyed both of them because of poor second shots. I knew I had to make a good shot on the 12th hole." With Barry stroking the ball well on the greens and Palotai making bogeys on their 13th and 15th holes, Barry opened a two-shot lead with three holes to play. At No. 7 on the front nine, he pushed his tee shot into a field of grass clumps and tire ruts. But because he wasn’t in a hazard and because they were playing lift, clean and place, Barry escaped. He put his second shot on the green and two-putted for par, while Palotai ran his 5-foot birdie putt over the edge and also settled for par. "After he missed that, I think he knew (it was over)," said Roseburg coach Lonnie Lee. A bogey on the next-to-last hole gave Barry the three-shot cushion he’d finish with. Ashland, meanwhile, had no cushion. As its players made the turn in nondescript fashion, it became apparent they’d have to play better over the back nine just to make state. Grants Pass had moved ahead of the Grizzlies into the No. 2 spot through the first nine holes. "I was scared," said Harvey. "I saw not too great of scores. I knew I had to come through on the back nine. We kept it together." Joel Salmond, playing in the last group, shot 79 for the Grizzlies, as did Ben Wright. Will Murphy chipped in with 80. The Grizzlies had a two-day total of 637 to Roseburg’s 638. Grants Pass was at 648. Ashland was last in the conference tournament last season, making its rise a worst-to-first ascension. SEASON STANDINGS — Roseburg 2,190, Ashland 2,239, North Medford 2,265, Grants Pass 2,273, South Medford 2,344, Eagle Point 2,692, Klamath Union incomplete. TEAM SCORES — 1, Ashland, 323-314—637; 2, Roseburg, 321-317—638; 3, Grants Pass, 330-318—648; 4, North Medford, 332-324—656; 5, South Medford, 336-339—675; 6, Eagle Point, 370-374—744; 7, Klamath Union, 393-380—773. TOP 10 FINISHERS — 1, Mike Barry, NM, 75-70—145; 2, Marc Palotai, Ros, 75-73—148; 3, Greg Harvey, Ash, 79-76—155; 4, Brodie Sullivan, SM, 79-79—158; 5, Joe Salmond, Ash, 79-79—158; 6, (tie) Derek Rampersaud, Ros, 80-79—159, McKenzie Gordon, Ros, 82-77—159, Mike Leonard, GP, 76-83—159, Calen Nicholson, GP, 84-75—159; 10, Nick Nieto, SM, 82-80—162. ASHLAND (314) — Greg Harvey 76, Joel Salmond 79, Ben Wright 79, Will Murphy 80. ROSEBURG (317) — Marc Palotai 73, McKenzie Gordon 77, Derek Rampersaud 79, Sean Jovin 88. GRANTS PASS (318) — Calen Nicholson 75, Andy Maphet 79, Nick Gates 81, Mike Leonard 83. NORTH MEDFORD (324) — Mike Barry 70, Nick Taylor 83, Christian Bernard 84, Brad Johnson 87. SOUTH MEDFORD (339) — Brodie Sullivan 79, Nick Nieto 80, Mike Nieto 89, Jeff Schwendener 91. EAGLE POINT (374) — Trevor Lopez 87, Josh Dale 89, Steven Lindstrom 97, Brian Lew 101. KLAMATH UNION (380) — Scott Roberts 84, Carter Mast 87, Ron Cornelisen 104, Micky Monti 105. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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