Robert Gautney: Patel lights up Taft City Amateur
| Monday, Aug 24 2009 11:56 PM
Last Updated Monday, Aug 24 2009 11:58 PM
Contributing local golf columnist
Bhavik Patel made sure that the 2nd Taft City Amateur at Mifflin-Buena Vista will be remembered for years to come as the Fresno State University sophomore shot record rounds of 66 and 64 for a record 14-under 130 total.
Patel's blitz on the par-72 course broke the first year records of 68 and 67 for a 135 total by Brady Baguio last year. In fact, Patel was so dominant that runner-up Nick Vallejo shot 7-under 137 but was five shots back after the opening round and still lost ground with his own 6-under 66 in the final round!
"I had it going pretty good both days," said Patel of his record-shattering performance. "Every time I got into position to make a putt, it seemed like I had a good read and they just went in."
Mark Charmley was third at 2-under 142 and Scott Anderson was fourth at 1-under 143 with Manav Shah fifth at even-par 144.
The win by Patel, along with breaking all three scoring records gave him 26 points in the 2009 Sports Authority/Michelob Ultra Player of the Year Series and he now has 56 total points, but trails Anderson who earned 14 and has 60.
Vallejo's runner-up finish, along with two bonus points for shooting below Baguio's final round of 67 last year, gave him 20 points and he now has 47 as the race for the player of the year title is starting to look like a three-player competition with just the RiverLakes Amateur next month and the Kern County Amateur in October left on the schedule.
Rounding out the top 10 in the championship flight were Ron Kilmer at 145, Chase Goodvin at 147 and four players - Brian Branson, Jeff James, Blake McPherson and Jeff Miller all equal eighth at 149.
Kilmer moved up to fifth in the player of the year points with 28 and trails fourth-place Danny Hoff who has 30 points.
Don Allmon shot a 150 total to win the gross division in the handicapped flight while Bob Bivens, who was second to Allmon, won the low net at 9-under 135.
Buena Vista pro Alan Sorensen said that the number of players was just under 50, well down from last year's inaugural tournament which had around 80.
"I think everyone is experiencing lower numbers," said Sorensen. "It used to be that you put a tournament out there and you could get 100 to 120 or more players. But not anymore, people just can't afford it. Even Dave (Bolar) at Sundale had to hustle for a couple of weeks to get a 100 players in the City a few weeks ago."
Even though it was a low turnout, it was just what Patel was looking for in his game before he traveled to Tulsa, OK over the weekend to prepare for the 36 hole medal play qualifying in the U.S. Amateur.
Patel played at Southern Hills GC on Monday and will play Cedar Ridge CC today (Tuesday). The top 64 players advance into match-play and Patel will play with Eric Steger from Noblesville, IN and Wes Roach from Knoxville, TN.
It is Patel's second U.S. Amateur appearance as he also made it to the championship last year and he has also played in two U.S. Junior Amateur Championships.
Patel qualified at Sunnyside GC in Fresno back on July 27 when he shot 68-66 which tied Derek Ernst for medalist honors.
A total of over 6,800 players tried their hand at qualifying and 312 will play at Southern Hills for the 64 match-play spots.
Should Patel make it into match-play like he did last year, the Golf Channel will be televising the opening two rounds, so let's hope that Patel is in the top 64 so we can see him on TV!
YATES QUALIFIES FOR LONG DRIVE REGIONALS
Former CSUB player Mike Yates cranked a drive 344 yards to tie for third place in the ReMax World Long Driving Local Qualifying at Haggerty-North Kern this past Saturday and earned a spot into the Regional Championship in Mesquite, NV in two weeks.
Yates tied with Shane Unger from Fullerton while Garrett Fulbright from Del Rey was second at 345 yards. The winner was Dalton Fugitt who ripped one 352 yards. All four will participate in the regionals with a chance to advance into the World Finals in Mesquite in October.
Dennis Harrah of Corning won both the 45+ and the 53+ divisions with a 300 yard drive in the 45+ and a 276 yard drive in the 53+. In fact, Harrah actually tied with North Kern professional Jim Phillips in the 45+ division, but won a playoff to get the only qualifying spot while Richard Leon actually won the 53+ with a 281 yard blast, but he had already qualified for the regionals previously.
Other Bakersfield participants and their best efforts were Thomas Harold (340), Kyle Manning (328) and Randy Force (320).
SEYMOUR QUALIFIES FOR U.S. SENIOR AMATEUR
Jim Seymour shot a 1-under 71 to earn co-medalist honors in Sectional Qualifying for the U.S. Senior Amateur at South Hills CC in Corona on August 17.
Seymour tied with Warren Caves of Newport Beach, while James Camione of Upland, Dan Pouliot of Burbank and Jack Rector of Thousand Oaks won a 5-way playoff for the final three spots after shooting even-par 72.
The U.S. Senior Amateur Championships will be September 12-17 at The Beverly CC in Chicago.
Fore Kids Golf League to hold tournament
The newly formed Fore Kids Golf League will conduct a golf tournament for kids 8-and-under on the The Links at RiverLakes Ranch par-3 course this Saturday from 8-10 a.m. The yearly league participant fee of $100 will be waived for the event and kids can participate for $5 with prizes for different age groups.
Club President, Larry Cook, who is also the Men's and Women's Golf Coach at Bakersfield College, says the event is to help promote the new league and get the word out.
Parents can call Cook at 332-5453 or go the the club website at ForeKidsGolf.com.
CHIP SHOTS
* The Women's Kern County Amateur Championship will be September 9-10 at Haggerty-North Kern and Rio Bravo CC. Entry is $100 and entry forms can be obtained at all area courses and pro shops. The deadline is August 31 and all players must be at least 16 to compete.
Tee to Green appears weekly at Bakersfield.com/sports. You can reach Gautney at: rgautney@bak.rr.com.
