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City Championship heating up

Leaderboard crowded at the top going into final round

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  • Paul Ebner •
  • Originally published July 21, 2008 at 7:47 a.m., updated July 21, 2008 at 7:47 a.m.

Players in the Victoria City Championship faired much better than the professionals in England competing in the British Open on Saturday.

While the winds blew 30-35 mph and made scoring conditions almost impossible at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, conditions were ideal at Riverside Golf Course.

Most of the field took full advantage in the second round of the 54-hole event with three players tied for the lead going into today’s final round at Victoria Country Club.

The wind was barely blowing at Riverside and it showed as three players broke par and two others shot even par on a day that saw a lot of movement on the leaderboard.

Defending champion Mark Bazan continue his struggles off the opening tee with a double bogey at the first hole for the second straight day, but the first-round leader was able to right his ship and has himself in a three-way tie for the lead.

After going out in 40 for the second straight day, Bazan fired a 34 coming in for a 74 and sets at 144.

Clay Fullick and Eric Westerman took a run at Bazan to reach a share of the lead with a pair of under-par rounds.

Fullick carded a 2-under 70 and Westerman a 1-under 71 to pull dead-even with Bazan.

“I hit it a million times better today than yesterday,” said Fullick who went out in 36 and came in at 34 and missed three short putts.

Westerman was pleased with his round as well and like Fullick felt it could have been a little better.

“I hit a lot of fairways and got up-and-down, but missed some putts I should have made,” Westerman said of his round of 37-34. “I had a lot of opportunities I didn’t capitalize on.”

While it appears the trio will be in a battle amongst themselves in today’s final round, they know it’s long from over as three other players are just five shots back at 149.

Donovan Dekowski shot a 1-under 71 to move into contention, while Victor Saurez added a 75 and Jeff Massey a 74 to go to 149.

“You’re going to have to play good tomorrow if you want to win,” Fullick said. “It’s going to be a good test.”

Mike Billings posted an even-par 72 to take over the lead in the Tetra senior championship flight.

Billings is at 147, four shots ahead of first-round leader Gary McBroom who carded a 77 on Saturday. Tommie Holt (81-80) and Jack Lee (86-75) share third place at 161.

Mike Garvel continues to hold on to a two-shot advantage in the Rigamonti Welding first flight following his 77 and stands at 152. Alan Elliott (79-75) follows at 154, while Heber Lacerda (77-80) is at 157.

Jim Linam stayed a top the Office Systems Center second flight and is in at 79-81-160. Telly Ramos (84-79) is three shots back at 163 and John Gonzales (83-81) is at 164.

Alan Culberson stretched his lead in the New Distributing third flight with his second straight 77 for a 514. Randy Pilsner (80-81) moves from third to second with a 161, while Clint Finley (78-85) falls to third at 163.

Darren Salas carded a 2-over 74 to leap from a tie for fourth to the lead in the Krueger Construction fourth flight. Salas was in at 162 and a shot in front of Bryan Hunt (86-77-163). Jeff Klare (85-83), who shared the first-round lead fell to third at 168, while Mike Smith (85-88) fell back to 173.

Claud Jacobs managed to stretch his lead in the Suwannees Supply fifth flight as well following his opening-round 80 with an 85 for a 165. Sidney Brown (84-86) is in second at 170 and Donny Schumaker (88-83) is third at 171.

Jacob Bowman turned in a second round 81 to give himself some breathing room in the Greek Brothers sixth flight. Bowman is in at 168, while Tony Kouches (92-81) follows at 173. Jeff Woodin (88-86) and Brian Walford (90-84) share third at 174.

Sharon Petty held her three shot lead in the Port Lavaca Auto Group womens flight. Petty added an 82 to her opening 81 and is at 163.

Viola Saenz matched Petty’s 82 and is at 166, while Eileen Heyer is at 185.



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