Story Courtesy of StarNews
By Dan Spears
Dan.Spears@StarNewsOnline.com
David Donovan IV said it's been a summer of practice on the putting stroke. Recently, it's also been a summer of rain.
The two came together in odd fashion last weekend, but the Topsail High School graduate found the right combination at the North Carolina Match Play Championship at River Landing Golf Club in Wallace.
With the Landing course swamped by water on Friday and Saturday, the par-72 layout was reduced to 18 par 3s – a literal pitch and putt in some cases. He survived the first four rounds of match play before rain won out at the final, which has been postponed to noon Friday.
"We got 18 holes, so I liked that aspect of it," Donovan said. "They could have easily done just nine holes, and that would have been tougher. I'm usually pretty good off the tee. It really didn't hurt me for some reason. I hit the irons well."
Donovan nearly had an early exit, but erased a four-down deficit with eight holes to play in the round of 16, making four 2s in five holes, then taking Nos. 17 and 18 with pars to win 1 up. He never trailed in a 1-up quarterfinal win, then ran off four holes in a row in the semifinals to close a 5 and 3 victory.
"I feel like I focused on my putting a lot this summer," Donovan said. "I think it's improved and I think that's why the scores have progressed so much. Work on it and see how far I can go with this."
Donovan's had several other strong results this summer and, having used the last of his college eligibility this spring, has a little time to decide where golf takes him next. He'll return to Lenoir-Rhyne to finish his degree this fall, then weigh his options next summer.
"I figure if I can't be the amateur guys, I won't beat the pros. That's the way I'm looking at it right now," Donovan said. "But this is definitely a good stepping stone right here."
Pender County Open
Olde Point in Hampstead is hoping to give folks a chance at a different kind of title in September, holding a one-day tournament and crowning a county champion.
The inaugural Pender County Open will be Saturday, Sept. 20, and is for residents of Pender, New Hanover and Onslow counties. Handicaps are required for this event, with crowns in men's, women's and seniors (65-and-over) divisions.
"Strictly 18 holes," said Olde Point professional JoAnn Palazzo. "It's not your typical captain's choice event that so many people play around here. … We wanted a different format for people to play in."
Proceeds go to the annual North Carolina Spot Festival, which distributes to area schools and the Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department. For information, go to oldepointgolf.com or call 270-2403.
Brigade and Magnolia
Magnolia Greens has partnered with the Brigade Boys and Girls Club for summer lessons.
Children ages 7 through 10 have been learning at the Leland golf course throughout the summer over a series of five lessons.
Brigade will also hold its 21st annual fundraiser tournament at Magnolia on Sept. 19. For more information, contact Brigade at 392-0747 or Magnolia Greens at 383-0999.
Carolinas Assistants
Scott Lambert of Mill Creek Golf Club in Mebane won in a playoff for the Carolinas PGA Assistants tournament on Tuesday at Grand Dunes in Myrtle Beach. He shot 67-69–136 and beat Rohan Allwood of The Woodlands in Columbia, S.C., over a two-hole aggregate playoff.
Alexander Kowalski of Eagle Point tied for sixth (71-71–142), one spot out of the qualifying for the national PGA Assistants Championship. Jeffrey Phieffer of the Bald Head Island Club tied for 10th (73-70–143), and Dan Greco, also of BHI, cashed with a tie for 21st (73-74–147).
Story Courtesy of StarNews
Dan Spears: 343-2038
