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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Stormy weather suits Robbins fine


Chris Ming of Puyallup stretches out after waiting out a rain delay. 
 (Jed Conklin / The Spokesman-Review)

For most of the participants, Saturday’s third round of the 2005 Lilac Invitational golf tournament turned into an endurance test that was more mental than physical.

An early-morning rain storm delayed play for over two hours and a mid-afternoon lightning show caused another 30-minute stoppage, which meant most of the players hung out at The Fairways at West Terrace golf course for over eight hours trying to complete their round.

But instead of letting the weather hold-ups and long work day mess with his head, Conner Robbins went about business in the usual manner, stiffing several of his approach shots and knocking in almost every important putt he stood over on his way to a 10-under-par 62 that vaulted him into the lead heading into today’s final round of the 72-hole event.

Robbins’ sensational effort was just one stroke off the course record set by Kirk Triplett in the 1989 Lilac, and put him at 23-under-par 193 after 54 holes. Jason Boyd was a shot back at 194 after posting a third-round 63, and second-round leader Josh Williams slipped six strokes off the pace and was at 199 following his 69.

Those three will join Troy Kelly, who is at 201 after shooting a third-round 67, in today’s final foursome, which is scheduled to tee off at 11:40 a.m.

That was about the time Robbins, Boyd, Williams and Mark Worthington were supposed to start on Saturday, but because of the first weather delay, they didn’t tee it up until shortly after 2 p.m. And it was closing in on 9 – and getting dark – when they finished.

“It was a long day,” Robbins admitted, “but it actually didn’t bother me. I just came out here to the course and relaxed with my buddies. We were all having a good time.”

And it got better for Robbins as the day progressed.

The 25-year-old pro from Bremerton, Wash., opened his magic round with three straight birdies and then bounced back from an unlikely bogey on the 6th with another birdie on the 171-yard, par-3 7th. He made the turn in 32 and then shot 30 on the back nine, thanks to an eagle-3 on the par-5 12th and a kick-in birdie on the difficult 18th.

“I don’t know what it was,” Robbins said. “I wasn’t nervous out there, I was just playing. It was relaxing to know my ball striking is back to where it should be. I’ve been striking it so bad of late, but it’s peaceful right now.”

And it helps, too, he admitted that the new “claw” putting grip he adopted recently has put him equally at ease over putts.

“On a daily basis, now, I know the putter is going to be there, and that helps a lot, too,” said Robbins, who made his birdie at 18 by knocking his 9-iron approach shot to within 10 inches of the cup.

But perhaps the biggest key to Robbins’ round was the way he bounced back after making his lone bogey at No. 6, where he left his approach shot from just 85 yards out short of the green and then failed to get up and down.

“When I managed to keep a level head after that bogey and birdie the next hole, it was huge,” he said.

Boyd, who played in the same foursome with Robbins, Williams and Mark Worthington, birdied six holes on the back nine and capped his 63 by rolling in a long birdie putt from the fringe of the 18th green.

When asked if it bothered him that his score wasn’t even the best in his foursome, the Stockton, Calif., pro laughed and said, “I’ll take it every time. All you can do is tip your hat to Conner. That was a great round.”

Williams, who had a one-stroke lead over Boyd at the start of the day, just couldn’t get it going on Saturday. He closed his day by missing a well-stroked birdie putt on 18 when his ball hit a ball mark and darted off line.

“And it was the same mark I had just fixed,” Williams said. “That’s how my day went. I couldn’t even fix a ball mark right.”

With today’s final round shaping up as a two-horse race, Boyd said he likes the idea of being paired with the tournament leader.

“It’s nice just knowing you’re in the final group,” he said. “And I like knowing what I’ve got to do.”

At which point Williams said, “I already know what I’ve got to do – shoot a 55.”