Gardner’s Steady Play Too Much For Brown, Pro-Am Field To Catch

Travis Brown was smoking, but it seemed Mark Gardner was on fire.

Brown, the assistant pro at Bryden Canyon, used a few puffs on a cigar to ignite a 4-under-par 31 on the back side of his home course to finish off a 4-under round of 67 in Monday’s Washington Trust Bank Pro-Am.

But, alas, his sizzling effort came up a stroke short as Gardner, pro at The Creek at Qualchan, put together a steady 33-3366 for victory.

“I didn’t make many mistakes that turned into bogies,” said Gardner, who offset just one bogey with six birdies as he had his putter working to near perfection.

After playing par golf on the front side, Brown said one of his playing partners offered him “a little cigar. I lit (it) up on the back side,” he added. “I don’t know why I did, because I don’t smoke.”

Don’t be surprised to see him light up about nine holes sooner next time.

Gardner’s assistant, Stu Aden, was third among the pros with a 68, a figure matched by Spokane Country Club’s Gene Teigen, who was the low amateur at 3-under.

Three pros - Steve Prugh, Manito; Matt Bunn, Spokane CC; and Dan Porter, Downriver - and amateur Monte Best of Deer Park had 69s as nine pros and five amateurs in the field of 40 pros and 159 amateurs matched or bettered par.

Leading net shooters were John Bergman, Qualchan, 0-8 handicap, 70-763; Chris Sexton, Indian Canyon, 9-13 handicap, 73-1063; and Lonnie Grimm, Bryden Canyon, 14 and up, whose 77-1661 was adjusted to a 62, 5 strokes below the course rating.

Manito Country Club had the team winner with Mike Rorholm, Kerry Novell, Bill Crutcher, Ron Smith and Ted McFaul combining for a 112.