Byron Kirby
Plays Through the Rain for a Five Stroke Victory in Webster, TX
31 August 2003 - Webster, TX - As morning
came it was not looking promising for being able to play in Webster that
day. It had rained most of the night and when the players arrived at the
course there were at least four holes that were partially under water.
Fortunately no heavy rain fell during the early morning and staff at
Webster did a great job in getting the course ready to play. About 9:00
a.m. the rain
stopped and it looked like we might actually get to play.
The 10:00 a.m.
start time arrived and just as the first group teed off the
rain started up again. With landscape around the course
already soaked it didn't take much for water to become a
factor. While it didn't rain hard enough to stop play in the
first round the scores were affected. The first round lead was
shared by four players at 5-under 31. About half the field had
finished the second round and few were in the third when the
rain really started coming down. Play was halted except for
players finishing off the second round, they were given the
option of finishing or halting, all decided to finish the
second round. With much of the course now under water a one
hour delay was called. Many of the players took advantage of
the new sandwich/pizza shop the course had to offer, a hot
meal and some time to dry off was nice. About 15 minutes prior
to the time set for a restart the rain again stopped. This
time it would stay stopped except for one brief spurt that
would come at an inopportune time. With some hard work by the
players and staff the course was ready to play.
The third round started with
Byron Kirby
at 12-under 60 holding a one stroke lead over
Lee
Messinger with
Wade Sahmel
in third two back. The cold start affected all the leaders with only
Byron able to shoot a solid last round. His 5 stroke win at 19-under 89
was doubly impressive in that he was the only player not take a bogey on
the day. Lee Messinger finished second with
David Lynch
and Brice
Bergesen tied for third.
The amateur division struggled through the conditions with no one
able to break 100 on the day. Like the pro division a relatively high
score held the first round lead with three players tied a 3-under 33.
Mickey DeLucca
and Chance
Marett broke away from the field in the second round and were tied
at 68 with a three stoke lead. Both players struggled during the last
round but Chance was slightly better and took his third title in a row
with Mickey finishing second. With the TPC
being competed after the morning events all state spots were medal
spots.
In the amateur division only three players were attempting so all got
a spot, Chance Marett,
Trevor Lewin,
and Adam Sahmel.
Byron Kirby and David Lynch got the first two medal spots in the Pro
division but
Jeffrey Smith and
Rainey
Statum had to playoff for the third. Jeffrey prevailed to take the
final spot.
Article and scores
provided by Lee Messinger.
Professional Division of
Webster, TX Event (31
August
2003)
|
|
Round |
|
Prize |
|
Player |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Total |
Money |
|
1 |
Byron Kirby* |
31 |
29 |
29 |
89 |
$160.00 |
|
2 |
Lee Messinger |
31 |
30 |
33 |
94 |
$100.00 |
|
3 |
Brice Bergesen |
33 |
32 |
31 |
96 |
$60.00 |
|
|
David Lynch* |
34 |
32 |
30 |
96 |
$60.00 |
|
5 |
Wade Sahmel |
31 |
32 |
35 |
98 |
$40.00 |
|
6 |
Jeffrey Smith* |
31 |
36 |
32 |
99 |
$25.00 |
|
|
Rainey Statum |
32 |
32 |
35 |
99 |
$25.00 |
|
8 |
Joel Baker |
33 |
34 |
33 |
100 |
|
|
9 |
Steve Tanton |
37 |
33 |
31 |
101 |
|
|
10 |
Jon Drexler |
35 |
33 |
34 |
102 |
|
|
11 |
Tom Adair |
36 |
39 |
28 |
103 |
|
|
12 |
Mike Baldoza |
34 |
35 |
35 |
104 |
|
|
13 |
Greg Simpson |
34 |
40 |
32 |
106 |
|
|
14 |
Kelly Mize |
34 |
44 |
30 |
108 |
|
|
15 |
Steve Armstrong |
32 |
37 |
40 |
109 |
|
|
16 |
Jimmy Clark |
38 |
42 |
37 |
117 |
|