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Published: August 19, 2008 11:07 pm
Flinton wins sectional after record 62
By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer
Oakwood Country Club has a special place in Kyle Flinton’s heart, having both played there as a high school player at Enid and worked there as an assistant under Dave Bryan.
It has even a more special place now.
Flinton broke Oakwood’s competitive record with a nine-under par 62 in repeating his crown in the South Central Professional Championship Tuesday.
Flinton, of Oklahoma City’s Quail Creek Country Club, had a 54-hole score of 197 to win the tournament by 10 shots over Tim Fleming of Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club’s.
Former Plainsman golfer Kyley Tetley eagled a playoff hole to finish fifth at 210 to earn a spot in the National Professional Championship June 28 through July 1 at Santa Anna Pueblo, N.M.
“It’s a great day for Oakwood,’’ said Oakwood Country Club pro Tim Mendenahall.’’
None had a greater day than Flinton, who broke the old record of 63 held by Steve Ball in the South Central Sectional a few years ago.
“I never stop attacking,’’ Flinton said. “I just kept getting better and better.’’
Flinton knew he was in for a good day when he made a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole after being off the front ridge.
“That got me going for the day,’’ he said. “I was driving the ball well and making putts.’’
Flinton hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation in the nine-birdie, nine-par round and was in the fairway in 14 of 18 holes.
The highlights of the rest of his round included:
• Hitting an 8-iron to within eight feet on No. 4 and making the birdie.
• Hitting an 8-iron to within 20 feet on No. 5 and making the birdie.
• Hitting a 7-iron to within two feet on No. 10 and making a birdie.
• Hitting a 6-iron to the green on No. 13 and two putting for a birdie.
• Hitting a back wedge to 10 feet on No. 14 and making the birdie.
• Hitting a 3-wood to within 30 feet on No. 15 and two putting for a birdie.
• Hitting to within 40 yards of the green on No. 17, then chipping it to within six feet of the hole and making the birdie.
Flinton once had a 60 at Cushing Country Club, but he said he can’t remember playing that well in a competitive round.
“Oakwood has always had a special place in my heart,’’ Flinton said. “This is nice. I know the trees are a lot bigger now than when I was growing up.’’
Fleming had a 70 for a 207. Jeff Combe, of Tulsa Country Club, was third at 208 after shooting a 67. Former Oklahoma golfer Cary Cozby, of Wichita, Kan., Country Club, was fourth at 209 after firing a 64.
Tetley tied Greg Bray, of Terradyne Country Club, and Tim Graves, of Coffee Creek Country Club, for fifth at 210 after shooting a 68.
Tetley hit his approach to within 10 or 15 feet of the hole in a playoff for the remaining two national berths. South Central Sectional got an extra berth because Flinton was exempted from finishing in the top 15 last this summer.
He made the putt to beat out Graves, who birdied the hole, and Bray, who had a par. Graves got the last national spot. Bray will be the first alternate.
“You could definitely feel the pressure,’’ Tetley said. “You focus, but the pressure is there. It’s pretty nice.’’
It’s the second time Tetley, a 1991 EHS graduate, has qualified for the nationals. It made it special that he did it in his hometown.
“I’m real familiar with this course,’’ he said. “I’m more comfortable than most people probably. The goal of the club pro is always to make it to the nationals. This is one of our majors, you get pumped up for it.’’
Mark Fuller, of Oaktree Country Club, beat Tracy Phillips, of Cedar Ridge Country Club, in a playoff for the second alternate spot.
South Central Professional Championship
At Oakwood Country Club
Kyle Flinton 66-69-62—197
Tim Fleming 69-68-70—207
Jeff Combe 72-69-67—208
Cary Cozby 74-71-64—209
Kyley Tetley 69-73-68—210
Tim Graves 69-70-71—210
Greg Bray 72-70-68—210
Mark Fuller 70-71-79—211
Tracy Phillips 74-69-68—211
Grant Masson 69-73-71—213
James Kane 71-70-72—213
Rod Alexander 73-69-72—214
Steve Blaske 70-74-71—215
Shannon Friday 73-71-73—217
Troy Hendricks 73-73-71—217
Andy Schaben 74-71-73—218
Jim Elliott 71-75-73—219
Arthur Romero 70-75-74—219
Peter Vitali 72-77-71—220
Lee Johnson 73-72-76—221
Kevin Brown 73-74-75—222
Tom Cannarozzo 72-72-78—222
Bart Craig 73-76-73—222
Cimarron Grubb 76-68-78—222
Fletcher White 78-68-76—222
Judson Choate 72-71-80—223
Kurtis Gibson 74-74-75—223
Aaron Kristopeit 73-75-75—223
Michael Socha 76-76-72—224
Tim Jenkins 78-73-74—225
Michael McQuain 77-74-74—225
Craig Walker 77-74-74—225
Michael Gotcher 75-75-76—226
Michael Gowens 77-73-76—226
J.J. Johnson 77-76-73—226
Cary Maddox 74-74-78—226
Edward Roethliesberger 77-76-73—226
Michael Singletary 71-76-79—226
Bill Wagner 75-75-76—226
Steve Ramsey 73-78-77—228
Glen Rose 73-76-79—228
Dennis Bowman 73-76-80—229
Tom Heffer 77-78-74—230
Brandon Marshall 82-75-73—230
Brad Fulton 76-77-78—231
Timothy Johnson 78-75-78—231
Brent Mistler 81-78-72—231
Charles Roadman III 81-73-78—232
Michael Stewart 77-74-81—232
Scott Shelby 81-78-74—233
Jeff Tucker 79-79-77—235
Mark Tams 77-80-81—238
Aaron Speaker 85-76-78—239
Brent Cryer 78-87-79—244
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