Wurtz Stutters With 71 Combs, Freeman Inch Ahead As Rosauers Race Tightens

Mark Wurtz walked off the 17th green at Indian Canyon and said to nobody in particular: “Seemed so easy yesterday (Friday, when he shot 63); seems so hard today (71).”

Golf has a way of evening the score.

Saturday is “moving day” in tournaments - a round to position one’s self for the final 18 holes - and Wurtz moved back to the Rosauers Open Invitational field. The field met him halfway.

In fact, Wurtz slipped out of first place, one shot behind Jeff Freeman, who tacked on a 68 to his opening 65, and steady Michael Combs, who added a 67 to his first-round 66.

Those three will tee off in the final group today at noon - quality resumes in hand.

Wurtz was on the PGA Tour in 1994-95, once finishing tied for eighth at the Western Open.

Freeman, whose brother, Robin, is on the PGA Tour, has played the Nike Tour. He’s driven so straight the first 36 holes he probably doesn’t realize those leafy/thorny impediments next to the fairways are trees.

Combs won the U.S. Public Links in 1990 and teed off in the first round of the 1991 Masters with Jack Nicklaus. He’s been strong on the PGA’s Pacific Northwest Section since 1993.

“I’ve been there before (in the last group on Sunday), so you just go out and play,” said Combs, of Kennewick.

“Mark’s still going to be tough,” said Freeman, who should know. The two are friends and occasional playing partners who live about 15 miles apart in the Southern California desert.

“You never feel good when you finish bogey-bogey,” said Wurtz, who did precisely that. “But all you really want is a chance to win on the last nine.”

The champion will cash a check for $12,000.

Moving into striking range were Jeff Coston, Greg VanNatta and Chuck Milne at 136, three shots behind the leaders.

Coston, from Blaine, Wash., near the Canadian border, shot 67, as did Milne. VanNatta, from King Ranch golf course near Missoula, missed a bundle of makeable birdie chances and still managed a 6-under 65.

Several area players remain in the hunt, led by Mark Rohde (Rohde Golf Studio), who, at 137, trails by four. Despite a disagreeable putter, Rohde fashioned a 67. “I never made a putt over 2 feet,” Rohde said, “but I hit it better than (Friday).”

Indian Canyon assistant Dave Christenson, who shot 71, sits at 138. Chris Mitchell (Sun Dance), Mark Gardner (The Creek at Qualchan) and amateur Kent Brown (Colville Elks) are at 139.

Combs, 29, was plodding along until he drove the 267-yard 17th and made birdie. He followed with another bird on the par-5 18th.

“I putted well and I guess I drove it well, too,” said Combs, who won last year’s Lilac Invitational. “When you do that, you’re going to score on any golf course.”

Freeman, built like a football tight end, did everything but birdie holes 14 through 17. On 14, his putt seemingly backtracked on a slope to settle on the lip of the hole. His 16-foot putt on No. 15 lipped out. On 16, he left a 17-footer short and his 10-foot putt on the 17th slid by on the left side.

He nearly drained a 40-foot eagle putt on No. 18 before settling for a birdie.

“They just wouldn’t fall in,” he said.

Playing the back nine first, Wurtz birdied No. 18 - routine for nearly all the leaders - to turn at 1 under.

He was 2 under, but gave a stroke back when he missed a 4-foot par putt at No. 8.

Wurtz pulled his drive into the underbrush on No. 9, chipped backward to get onto the fairway and eventually made bogey.

“I didn’t play too bad, I had five birdies,” Wurtz said, “but I made a couple of bad shots.”

Wurtz is looking forward to playing with Freeman. If you’re looking for trash-talking, watch the Dream Team. Sportsmanship will be on display in the final group.

“Jeff and I have been friends since way back. I’m friends with his brother Robin,” Wurtz said. “We’ll probably be pulling for each other.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Leaderboard Michael Combs 66-67-133 Jeff Freeman 65-68-133 Mark Wurtz 63-71-134 Jeff Coston 69-67-136 Greg VanNatta 71-65-136 Chuck Milne 69-67-136 Mark Rohde 70-67-137 John McComish 67-70-137