Gordon Schiring (Senior) and John Garrett (Silver) came away with victories in the gross divisions of the 2018 Clark County Senior Amateur Championship, an SNGA major, played Nov. 14-16, 2018, at Boulder Creek Golf Club. Hugh Manning (Senior) and Jim Cail (Silver) won net division crowns. — By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
The tournament was played over the Desert Hawk and Coyote Run nines at the 27-hole Boulder Creek layout.
Senior
Gordon Schiring won with a birdie on the second playoff hole as he and John Turk finished the 36-hole event with two day totals of 143.
Both players parred the first hole while Turk could only manage a par on the par-5 second hole.
“My driver was almost perfect both days,” Schiring said. “Except on No. 16 when I snapped a drive and had to take a drop. And then John almost holed out for an ace on No. 17. I thought I had lost it but then found out we were tied and heading to a playoff. I had another chance to win it and took advantage of it.”
He said he knew the playoff would be a challenge.
“After the first hole when he made a great par I told myself to dig in because this could last awhile. Then I thought he was going to make birdie on the second hole but when he didn’t I took advantage.”
It was Schiring’s first SNGA win.
“The SNGA just does a tremendous job of putting on tournaments,” he said. “It’s just a great atmosphere.”
Senior
Gordon Schiring, 69-74—143
John Turk, 72-71—143
Darrell Lutey, 71-74—145
Senior Net
Hugh Manning also found himself in the winner’s circle for the first time.
He admitted it wasn’t easy.
“I missed a couple of short putts thinking about the score,” he said. “I didn’t realize I was that close and I think I put a little extra pressure on myself.”
He said coming up to the tournament, his game was solid.
“I put in a little extra time practicing and it paid off,” he said. “I was really striking my irons well. I didn’t hit any fat shots and that’s always good.”
Senior Net
Hugh Manning, 70-72—142
Donald Blanton, 73-69—143
Ron Siskey, 73-71—144
Silver
John Garrett’s goal in golf is easy: Have fun.
“It’s just fun to be in it,” he said. “I really don’t care if I win, I just want to play well.”
He did just that in posting a three-shot victory. It was his third win of 2018. He was also runnerup in this event in 2017.
He added a few breaks along the way didn’t hurt his effort.
“I got lucky with a couple of shots,” he said. “I hit some bad shots and got away with them. You definitely need a little luck along the way.”
Silver
John Garrett, 73-71—144
Tim Blau, 72-75—147
Cyrus Whitney, 75-72—147
Silver Net
Jim Cail is finally back in the winner’s circle.
“I won here seven or eight years ago,” he said. “It’s great to do it again. I putted well. It’s always the putts for me.”
Cail, who underwent a heart operation in January, said he’s finally back to 100 percent.
“I was playing here (Boulder Creek) and was going up a hill,” he said. “I felt pain in my chest. I said ‘This isn’t right’ and I made an appointment and went to see a cardiologist. He put in three stints and I spent about a week in the hospital. I lost a lot of weight but my expectations are back.”
He added that going to the doctor literally saved his life.
“He said if I wouldn’t have come in that probably would have been my last round of golf,” he said.
Silver Net
Jim Cail, 72-66—138
Jeffrey English, 76-66—142
Jim Burger, 73-69—142
