UI Golfer Leads Amateurs

The pros put on another outstanding show at the 39th annual Holiday Inn Express Lilac City Invitational golf tournament that concluded Sunday at The Fairways at West Terrace.

But several local amateurs turned in impressive performances in supporting roles.

Matt Johnson, who plays for the University of Idaho, battled Sunday’s gusty winds to shoot a final round of 2-over-par 74 that made him the low amateur in the event. Johnson finished with a 72-hole total of 283 - a stroke ahead of Neil Schnider and Chuck Green - and earned $500 worth of prizes.

Schnider and Green each earned $450 in prizes. Last year’s low amateur, Tim Rypien, was fourth.

Blue-ribbon greens

The greens at The Fairways were once again the target of praise from many of the 60 professionals who entered this year’s event.

First-round leader Jared Jeffries called them the best he has played on all year, and Tumwater Valley pro Chris Mitchell said, “On a scale from 1 to 10, they’re a 15.”

The only complaints centered on the subtle breaks that seemed to confound most players.

“The greens are great. They putt real true,” said 1997 winner Storm Gleim. “But I can’t read ‘em.”

Putting for dollars

The eagle putts that Rob Clark rolled in on the par-5 third and 12th holes on Friday were almost as important to his wallet as they were to his score.

Not only did they help Clark post the low round of the tournament - a 9-under-par 63 - and grab a share of the lead, but they also gave Clark the only two skins in the daily skins game. Each skin was worth $305.

Skinless in Spokane

The only hole-in-one during this year’s Lilac came on Friday when professional T.C. Smukalla knocked his tee shot into the cup on the 145-yard, par-3 fourth hole.

Unfortunately, Smukalla had not entered the daily skins game and earned nothing for his ace.

Remake of 12 is a hit

The reviews are in on the new tee box at The Fairways much-maligned par-5 12th hole, and they’re good.

“That makes it a completely different hole,” said six-time Lilac champion Chris Mitchell.

In the past, the hole - which doglegs around a small lake - has been criticized for being too easy. In past years, when it played to less than 480 yards, long hitters were able to carry their drives across the lake and leave themselves with a short iron or wedge approach.

This year, a new championship tee box that sits nearly 50 yards behind and to the left of the old one, was used. Most players were forced to dramatically alter their strategy.

Defending champion Storm Gleim said he hit 2-iron, 3-iron wedge on the first day when the breeze was into his face.

“It’s a legitimate par-5 now,” he said.