Players complete first two days of state golf tourney

July 15, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

SETTLERS BAY - Players fought persistent rain and tricky pin placements during day one of the Alaska Handicap Amateur Tournament at Settlers Bay Friday.

&#8220It was a grind today,” said Wasilla's Ross Walther, who shot a 75 (net 74) in the opening round.

Golfers said the Settlers Bay layout was in excellent shape and had no complaints about the course.

&#8220The course was near-perfect,” said Adam Baxter of Fairbanks.

The pins, however, weren't exactly easy, with many in the toughest locations on the green.

&#8220I think some of the pins were a little unfair,” Baxter said.

Players returned to action Saturday at the Moose Run Creek course in Eagle River.

Following Saturday's round, Greg Sanders was the overall leader from the first flight with a net score of seven-under, 136. Brandon Kaiser was even after shooting a net 143 over the first two days.

The three-day handicapped tournament pits golfers more against themselves than each other.

Sanders, Kaiser and Erik Thompson turned in the day's best rounds Friday - two-under, 70 - but Kaiser, Sanders and Travis Jorgenson were actually the day one leaders with net scores of 69.

A player's net score is determined by subtracting his or her adjusted handicap from overall gross score.

For the entire tournament, Sonny David Faulk was the overall leader, shooting minus-13 net after rounds of 93 and 97 Friday and Saturday.

On the women's side, Cecilia Hooper had the two-day lead at six-under par net, while Susan Gatewood was five shots back at minus-one. Wasilla's Rynae Baca was in third with a net score of eight strokes over par.

Kaiser, a 19-year-old from Anchorage who plays at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona, said he had no complaints about the Settlers Bay course Friday.

&#8220It was tough but fair,” he said.

The tournament's top flight will finish today at Anchorage Golf Course. Kaiser - who grew up on AGC - said he believes the format plays to his strength.

&#8220Going into AGC will be an advantage for me,” he said.

Flights two through eight will finish today at Moose Run and Settlers Bay.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Matt Tunseth at matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com.