"He looked pretty green on the first tee this morning. I wasn't sure he'd make the whole round," said Brock Simpson, second-place finisher in the annual Woodlawn Classic golf tournament, talking about the winner Anthony Melle.
"Yeah, he still played some solid golf though," said third-place finisher Nolan Rohatyn, seated in the clubhouse following the third and final round of the Classic.
Melle, who had never captured this title before, had opened with a three-under 69, which set a pretty tough target for the challengers. He followed that Saturday qualifying round with a couple of 75s for a 219 total and a four-stroke edge on Simpson, who qualified with a 75 and followed up with 73 and 75. Rohatyn opened with a 74, took a 76 on Sunday and finished with a 74 on Monday in the final round. It wasn't enough as neither man could mount a significant challenge for the champion-to-be, flu or no flu.
"I just tried to play my normal game," said Melle, who played the first nine in 37 on Monday and then turned to a bit of defensive strategy on the backside.
"The 69 opening was the key. I only missed two greens in regulation, my putting was good, made a few key four and five footers, so getting off to that start was the difference," he said.
Playing against the likes of Rohatyn, Simpson and Marcus Friess also helped him elevate his game.
"It's tough out there with those guys because they're all battlers and yet they are so much fun to play with," Melle said.
"On the back I just stuck to playing my game. I only really played it safe on the 18th when I controlled my tee shot with an iron. I started off with a couple of early birdies, had a tap-in birdie on the fourth, but then I gave some away on five and six," the 26-year-old shot-maker said.
"I'm happy with the results. I'm in the middle of a swing change, going from a cut to a draw that should help me," he said, referring to the technical workouts and changes he is undergoing with Woodlawn club professional Brian Dueck.
"I just tried to stay in front. Playing with some tough competition keeps me on my toes. I see where I have to do some more work with my wedges though."
"I knew on the back nine today I had to go for it, take some chances if I was going to ever catch him," said Simpson, referring to Melle and the four-stroke lead he managed to maintain. "So I went for a long drive on No. 15 (a 500 yard Par 5) and then for the flag, but none of it really worked out. I took a 38 on the back nine, didn't gain any ground at all. And here he was sick and yet he played so well, I give him full credit and then some," Simpson added, noting that this was his first time competing in the classic. "Every other year I've had to work. I hope to be back next year. This was a great experience."
"Anthony played so solid, nobody could mount a charge. I had a lot of good shots, left myself short, again, on a number of putts, and that was it," said Rohatyn.
Cody Balon carded a 79 on the final day of the tourney to add to a couple of 75s to earn fourth place in the championship flight.
Defending champion Brendon Grube was not entered in the tournament this time around.
First flight winner was Jordan Hegglin who shot rounds of 84, 76 and 73 to earn a count-back title, snatched away from runner-up Pat Murphy, who matched his 233 total with his rounds of 80, 76 and 77. Third place was claimed by Mark Spencer at 235, while fourth went to David Henneberg with 240.
The second flight winner was Layne Wolos who shot 82, 75, 79 for a 236 total, well ahead of second-place finisher Derek Elash who finished with a three-day total of 250. Lee Symons took third with a 251 followed by Kevin Toombs, also at 251.
Third flight winner was Tony Heath with a total of 251 based on scores of 88, 83 and 80. Second place was Dennis Gonas with a 254, followed by Matt Bakke in third and Trevor Gessner in fourth with scores of 255 and 258, respectively.
Fourth flight winner was Bart Shaw with rounds of 95, 87 and 85 for a 267, a five-stroke margin over runner-up Brad Wilhelm. Third was claimed by Wayne Chernoff at 272 followed by Doug Casler with a 273.
There was one flight for senior competitors with prizes for both low net and low gross.
The low gross winner was Terry Rohatyn with rounds of 79, 77 and 80 for 236, eight strokes ahead of second-place Clark McClelland and 10 up on third place finisher Gary Marklinger. The low net finisher in the seniors' division was Chris Wright with rounds of 86, 94, 83. Second in seniors' low net was Dale Fox and third was Ron Friess.
