7-time winner, Garner, leads club championship after opening round
Published 7:14 pm Saturday, August 15, 2015
Paul Garner watches his opening tee shot closely on the first hole of the Selma Country Club Championship. Garner, who has won the tournament seven times, leads the tournament after an opening round 71. He leads by one shot over Paul Portwood and Philip Nader. –Daniel Evans
There’s a familiar name at the top of the leaderboard at the Selma Country Club championship.
Paul Garner, who has won the event seven times, shot an even par, 71, on Saturday and leads by one shot after the first round. Garner had four birdies and four bogeys in an up and down round.
Despite his good score, Garner hit only three of 14 fairways.
“I didn’t hit many good shots, but some days it is like that. You get a few good bounces,” Garner said. “I was in the woods all day.”
Despite hitting it all over the course, Garner finds himself in a familiar position.
He leads by one stroke over Paul Portwood and Philip Nader in the tournament’s gross score championship. Logan Tucker and William Free, who leads the second flight, were three shots back after shooting 74.
In the low-net score competition, which factors in each player’s handicap, Barry Stephens leads the way after a 65. Stephens bested Ken Morrison by two shots and Brett Wood and Caleb Morris by three.
Portwood, who netted a 69, was four back.
The tournament also includes a women’s and junior championship tournament.
Sammi Park leads the ladies’ gross score championship after an opening round 92. Barbara Moore leads the net championship after a 77.
In the junior competition, players were broken down by their age group. Youth under 10 played only nine holes during their first round.
Fair Garner, Paul’s daughter, leads the 8-and-under girls’ championship after an opening round 64.
Tayme Hammad leads the boys’ 8-and-under championship over Jude Assaad by six shots after an opening round 65.
Barron Frazer shot an opening round 64 to lead the 9-and-10 boys championship. He leads Sam Garner by one and Clay Beers by two.
In the 11-and-12 year-old boys championship, Jones Free shot an impressive 76. Arrington Mooney was in second in that age division after a 97.
The boys 13-and-14 division is being led by Thomas Morris, who shot 79 and leads Gus Colvin Wilson by seven shots.
The tournament will conclude Sunday with its final round. The junior championship and women’s championship competitors will tee off at 8:30 a.m., while the men’s competitors will tee off at 1 p.m.
