Burkholder keeps rolling

BATH TOWNSHIP - Todd Burkholder wanted to keep his play going in the Lima City Men's Golf Championship. As for Brett Eley, not so much.

 Burkholder stormed into the first round of match play at Colonial Golfers Club in the championship flight after a blistering 67 Tuesday at Hawthorne Hills.

The former City champ made easy work of Kevin Hawley on Wednesday in a 9-and-8 win.

"I continued to play well. I shot 3-under on the front, and one thing led to another," Burkholder said. "Once the snowball starts rolling, sometimes it's hard to get it stopped."

Eley came in as the 31st-seeded player - out of 32 - thanks to his Tuesday round of 86. His flame out at Hawthorne set him up with Mike Garlock, who fired a 68 in stroke play. Eley broke seeding and beat Garlock, 2-and-1.

"I just felt like if I could keep it in play and make some pars, good things would happen," Eley said. "I knew coming in I had been playing really well. I didn't play well at Hawthorne, so I knew I was probably due."

Eley opened a 3-up lead early on the front nine, but Garlock battled back to all square through No. 11.

If Garlock and Eley were to play 10 matches, Eley felt the series would be an even split.

"I was just real relaxed. I didn't have to worry about my score, and I hit some good shots," Eley said. "Mike's a good player. Some days, that's just the way it works out."

The championship flight resumes today with match play at Shawnee Country Club. The highlight will be Burkholder against defending champion Doug Mauch, who bested Chad Gray 5-and-3.

"You just got to play whoever's next," Burkholder said.

Tom Holtsberry, owner of Colonial, had many golfers approach him about the great condition of his course. However, he also took his fair share of ribbing. Many golfers felt some of the pin placements were especially tough.

For instance, on holes 11 through 13, there was only one birdie in the Senior and Super Senior flights, which played a second day of stroke play.

"They had some tough pins out there. Some were almost ridiculous," Gary Karch said. Karch won his championship flight match against Andy McGreevy, 5-and-3.

But, as Burkholder pointed out, every golfer played the same course, with the same hole locations. Except Burkholder, of course, who ended his match on No. 11.

"I didn't have to play those holes, so I felt fortunate," Burkholder said. "It's not just a run-of-the-mill day of golf. There might have been some rumblings, but it was the same for everybody."

In the senior flight, Paul Masters shot a two-day total of 150 to secure the top seed entering match play. Masters carded a 74 at Colonial.

"I'm playing good, solid golf. I'm at that age where nothing's perfect," Masters said. "It's just a lot of fun. I'm glad being out here and having fun with everybody."

The second spot was a logjam with three golfers coming home at 154. John Gronas is the second seed, with Pete Hubbell third and Jim Troyer fourth.

The 16th and final spot in match play went to Jeff Ducey, who turned in a 168 along with Jake McCord and Bob Moser. Ducey won with a birdie on the first playoff hole.

The lead after two rounds of stroke play in the super senior flight went to Ted Keysor, whose 1-over 72 gave him a total of 149 and eight strokes clear of the next golfer, Larry Lewis.

Both the seniors and super seniors begin match play today at Shawnee.