Schultz and Jenkins win in Bowling Green
After two rounds in the wind, driving rain, and temperatures in the low 40s, Barry Schultz saw his 5 throw lead whittled down to 1 throw after the second round over 2008 PDGA money leader Eric McCabe. After 2 holes in the 9-hole final at Lovers Lane, Schultz had gained 3 throws back on McCabe, and he gave himself some breathing room and cruised to a 4-throw victory. Schultz carded 5 birdies in the final nine holes. McCabe struggled on the first 2 holes in the finals, carding a par 3 on the first hole, and uncharacteristically 3-putting the second hole to make bogey. Otherwise, it was a solid performace by McCabe, who shot back-to-back 46s at Kereiakes and Lovers Lane on Sunday to climb within 1 throw before the finals. David Feldberg shot 46 at Kereiakes and 47 at Lovers on Sunday to nearly match McCabe's performance, and missed a 40-footer on the last hole to tie McCabe, and settled for a third place tie with road warrior Geoff Bennett from Michigan.
Val Jenkins threw an incredible 47 at Lovers Lane on Sunday, which at least temporarily gives her the second highest rated round ever by a woman at 1027. This gave her a 7-throw lead over Des Reading after round 3. But Reading came storming back in round 4 at Kereiakes. Reading shot 52 to move within 2 shots of Jenkins before the finals. Des then sank about a 100-foot approach shot on #4 to close within 1 of Jenkins. But Jenkins responded with a birdie 2 on #7, and Des uncharacteristically 3-putted that hole to make 4, and Val was up by 3 throws. Des could only gain one throw when Jenkins threw out-of-bounds on #8, and Jenkins parred the last hole to claim a 2-throw victory. Courtney Peavy had the best finals score, and moved up to 3rd, while Burl Berlogar adn Nicole Frazer tied for fourth.
In the masters division, local favorite Rocky Russell won by 5 throws over Louisville's David Greenwell and Michigander Javier Kowalski. Dr. Rick Voakes claimed the grandmasters title by 4 throws over fellow local player Jeff Soule. The 5 qualifiers for the USDGC were Jay Reading, Eric Roadhouse, Will Schusterick, Nolan Grider, and Bill "Critter" Themm.