Collins leads pack heading into final round at PVAC club championship
Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2008
One stroke separates Chris Collins from the remainder of the field.
Collins shot a 2-under 71 to take a one-shot edge over the pack at the Paradise Valley Athletic Club championship Saturday. Collins' 71 was one stroke better than Sawyer Radler's 1-under 72.
Wayne Beach carded an even-par 73 to head into today's final round in third place, well within striking distance. Defending champion Drew Stewart is three strokes off the pace after carding a 74. Manny McClain and Marshall Carter each turned in 74 s as well.
Collins mustered a scalding start with a 33 on the front nine but cooled on the back nine with a 38.
Collins stumbled following consecutive pars to open play on Nos. 1 and 2 with a bogey on the 419-yard, par-4 No. 3. Back-to-back birdies on the 448-yard, par-5 No. 4 and the mammoth, 572-yard, par-5 No. 5 got Collins back on track.
Collins birdied the 176-yard, par-3 No. 7 and the 370-yard par-4 No. 9 before disaster struck. Collins bogeyed three-straight holes to open the back nine with hiccups on the 436-yard, par-4 No. 10, the 394-yard, par-4 No. 11 and the 441-yard, par-4 No. 12.
Collins steadied the ship with consecutive pars before achieving birdie on the 411-yard, par-4 No. 15. But he lost the stroke with a bogey on the subsequent hole, the 233-yard, par-3 No. 16 before netting back-to-back pars on the daunting, 512-yard, par-5 No. 17 and the 409-yard, par-4 No. 18 to finish in the lead.
In Super Senior Flight action, Othel Sharp holds a slim, one-stroke lead. Sharp shot a 2-over 74 while Bob Twilley's 75 is second heading into today's final round.
Roger Gilmore's 76 leads the First Flight and Jack Lasey's 73 is the score to beat in the Second Flight. A. J. James and Michael Loos each shot 78 s to lead the Third Flight chase and John Riley's 77 leads the Fourth Flight. Gary Adams, Don Eichenberger and Pat Storms each carded 85 s for a threeway tie in the Fifth Flight.
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