Rain disrupts golf tourney
Published 12:02 am Wednesday, June 16, 2010
SELMA — Intermittent thunderstorms gave only a brief respite from the stifling heat for golfers in the Dixie Junior Invitational.
They were also blamed for some bad scores.
“It messes with me,” Matt Allen, a 14-year-old from Tuscaloosa, said. “I don’t like having to start over.”
Allen was like many of the 89 boys playing in the first round Tuesday. His round started, stopped, started again, stopped again and concluded in fading daylight.
Some weren’t able to finish their rounds, and will do so today at 9 a.m.
For that reason, Tommy Burns, Selma Country Club’s golf pro, said the tournament will be shortened to only two rounds for the older boys. Otherwise, they might not get their rounds completed.
The boys were scheduled to play two complete rounds today.
“Last week we couldn’t get any rain,” Burns said. “Now that we start the tournament, it won’t quit.”
Allen had finished 16 holes when play was suspended for the second time. He was at 16-over and said the weather was making play much more difficult. He shot 79 in a practice round earlier in the week,
“The ball doesn’t fly as good,” Allen said. “The weather has been inconsistent all week.”
J.D. Cobb, a 17-year-old from Pace, Fla., said breaks in play were hampering his rhythm.
“It takes a little more effort to get back to where you were,” Cobb said. “Your body reacts to it. I’m just trying to take what the weather gives me.”
Cobb was putting on No. 6 for the first delay and had just finished No. 13 when the second storm hit.
He was plus-four on the front nine, but birdied 10 and 13.
Earlier in the day, the girls completed their tournament with Langley Bell Young winning the 16-18-year-old division with a 149. Jessica Stewart (172) and Jesse Lawley (175) followed.
In the 13-15-year-old division, Tori Smith (177) won, followed by Sarah Battye (186) and Karly Rogers (199).
Ella Lawley shot 202 to win the 10-12-year-old division. She was the only girl in the age group.