Wet conditions welcome golfers at SCC Championship
Posted on Sunday, August 24, 2008
SPRINGDALE - Nearly a three-hour rain delay pushed tee times back in the Springdale Country Club Championship, but that didn't stop low scores from coming in as darkness approached the course Saturday.
The Club Championship of 90 men and 14 women fought soggy roughs and long play on drives to finish the first of two rounds Saturday. Defending champion David Dyer, who hit a rare double-eagle on the course at the rain-shortened Hays Biggs Swingfest earlier this month, did not participate in the members' only championship Saturday. Dyer won the club championship last summer.
As of presstime Saturday, Bill Bailey and Tim Graham led the men's group with 3-under cards of 69 after the first round.
"The early groups went out prior to the rain storms, so the golf course was in good shape and the greens were rolling pretty good," club professional Roy Hobbs said. "But then we got about another inch and a half of rain. The greens were still rolling pretty good. The rough was very wet and very hard to hit out of with all the water. "
Rob Costner finished with a 70 to follow right behind Bailey and Graham.
Dee Dietz, a club member for three years, came to the clubhouse with a 71 right behind Bailey, Graham and Costner. Dietz took a doublebogey on the par-3 No. 13 after overshooting the green and landing his ball in the water.
"I was 2-under after five holes, but then the course changed," Dietz said. "You just can't hit out of a wet rough. It just doesn't work."
Dietz, who teed off at 9: 40 a. m., went into the clubhouse while at the sixth hole as rain moved in. Dietz carded four birdies but double-bogeyed No. 13. He said he also left seven putts just short of the hole. Hobbs said the tournament was postponed for 2 hours, 50 minutes as rained moved through the area in the late morning. Seven past champions of the event were in the field Saturday. Three past women's champs were also playing on the wet course Saturday. As of presstime, Leslie Schwarz led the women's field with a score of 75. Nine groups had yet to finish their first round Saturday as of press time.
The men's and women's fields will be split into championship flights this morning to conclude the 36-hole tournament.
"If we don't get any rain and we have the greens rolling, I think a 67 or 68 will win it," Dietz opined.
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