Nelson takes control
As it turned out, catching first-round leader Lon Hinkle was much easier than Chris Griffin had envisioned.
But the young assistant professional at Tacoma Golf & Country Club still has someone to chase, thanks to the searing 64 turned in by his close friend and fellow pro Birk Nelson during Saturday’s second round of the $135,000 Rosauers Open Invitational at Indian Canyon Golf Course.
Nelson, a 33-year-old head pro at Diamond Woods Golf Course in Monroe, Ore., tacked his 7-under-par total onto Friday’s opening-round 67 and zipped past Hinkle, Griffin and all the rest of the names near the top of the leaderboard after Day 1 to put himself in prime position to claim the $11,000 winner’s check that will be awarded following today’s final round of the nation’s richest PGA sectional event.
“It was a nice steady round,” Nelson said of his effort. “Yesterday, I was even par for my first seven holes and then went on a streak where I was 7 under through six holes.
“Today, I was much more steady. I was grouping birdies two at a time, here and there. Today was one of those kinds of boring rounds – just birdieing the holes you’re suppose to birdie and getting the job done.”
Nelson, who is playing in only his second Rosauers, made the turn in 3-under 32 and then birdied the first two holes on the back nine to put himself in contention. He made a disappointing par on the par-5 12th, but bounced back with birdies on the next two holes – including the challenging 438-yard, par-4 14th – to help offset his lone bogey of the day at the short par-4 17th.
“You should birdie the 12th,” Nelson said. “But on this course, there are a lot of other birdie holes, too, so you can’t let yourself get too upset if you make a mistake or have a hiccup here or there.”
Nelson will be paired into today’s final threesome with Griffin, who is shot back at 132 following his second-round 67, and Jeff Coston, a perennial Rosauers contender and past champion, who is at 133 after shooting a 3-under 69.
“I had more fun yesterday,” said Coston, who won the 1997 Rosauers. “Yesterday, I was in complete control of my golf ball. Today, it was just OK. I wasted some shots I didn’t want to waste, but I’ll take it. I feel fortunate to be in this position.”
Hinkle, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour who opened with a 64, turned in a 1-under 70 and is tied with two others – including Tim Morton, the director of golf at Prairie Falls Golf Club in Post Falls – at 134.
“I didn’t have any eagles today,” said Hinkle, who posted two on Friday. “That tacked a few strokes on right there, and I had a couple of wayward shots, too. I also missed a lot of 5- to 8-foot putts, and on this course you have to make those.”
Griffin, who started the day tied for second and a stroke behind Hinkle, used an eagle on the par-5 second hole to fuel his second-round 67 that also included three birdies and bogey.
“I just didn’t hit it as solid today,” said Griffin, who tied for fourth in last year’s Rosauers. “I just kind of scraped it around to shoot what I shot, and I’m happy with the number. It wasn’t my best ball-striking round, but the number is what counts.”
Griffin said he looks forward to playing with Nelson and Coston in today’s final pairing, which is scheduled to tee off at 11:37 a.m.
“I know them both real well,” he said, “and you always want to be paired with the guy who’s leading. Not that it becomes match play, necessarily, but you can kind of play off him.
“Plus, I like this guy,” he added, nudging Nelson on the shoulder. “I can handle this guy. We’re good friends, and we might just load up our cart with beers tomorrow and have a good time.
“Poor Coston.”
Ninety players, including 19 amateurs, made the cut for today’s final round. Fourteen of them – including local competitors Trevor Fox, Mark Poirier, and low amateur Alex Prugh, who are all at 135 – are within four shots of the lead.