Plenty of Open Flight upsets

LIMA - The First and Third Open flights of the Lima City Men's Golf Championship went mostly to form; but there were plenty of upsets in the Senior Open and Second Flights Thursday at Lost Creek Country Club.

The Senior Open Flight saw the first three seeds all fall as No. 1 Martin Benroth fell to Denny Watt. After Watt won hole No. 15 to go 1-up, the pair then halved holes 16, 17, and 18. Watt advances to Shawnee Country Club today with the victory.

"It was back and forth all the way around." Watt said. "I struggled with the driver today but my putting was pretty good. I'm happy with the way I played and obviously happy with the result."

David Shilling beat second seeded Bob Casto by a 6-and-5 margin while third seeded Tim Larimore fell to Larry Sidener 3-and-2.

Other Senior Open Flight winners were Carl Neely, Thomas Kottenbrock, Steve Creps, Phil Coleman and David Meyer.

Creps beat good friend and long-time playing partner Harry Marshall 6-and-5.

"I played real well today, I was even par for the holes we played." Creps said. "I had two bogeys and two birdies and the rest were pars. We're good friends and play together a lot at Tamarac."

The First Flight went generally to form as top seed Mark Murphy advanced with a 4-and-3 victory over Brian Hennon.

Greg Stumbaugh, Bob Shipp, Adam Shultz, David Moritz, Josh Meihls, Clark Luginbuhl and Chris Inskeep also registered First Flight wins.

Moritz beat Bill Lumpkin 1-up the day after Lumpkin knocked out second seeded Eric West.

"I not sure I won the match as much as he lost it," Moritz said. "I was 1-down going to No. 17 and won both the 17th and 18th holes when he had penalty of strokes on both holes. I can't take a lot of credit but I guess I did take advantage when it was presented to me."

Shultz advanced with a 2-and-1 win over Jed Dorsey.

"It was close the whole way and I closed it out on hole 17." Shultz said. "It wasn't outstanding but I managed to get it around. I made some short putts when I needed to."

The top seed in the Second Flight fell when 16th seeded Josh Adams beat Eric Worsham by a 6-and-5 margin.

"I played really good, I was only one over for the 13 holes we played," Adams said. "It was one of those days when everything clicked. I hit irons off the tee on the short holes and the putts were dropping."

Paul Masters Jr., Jeremy Hounshell, Keith Augustus, Cameron Baker, Eric Marston, Ed Nolte and Josh Gains also advanced in the Second Flight.

Augustus advanced with a 4-and-3 victory over Rob Fletcher.

"I played good on the back nine." Augustus said. "We were even after the front nine and then tied hole No. 10. I then won the next four holes to close out the match. I was very pleased with my driving and ball-striking."

Boyd Rader, Kevin Mangas, David Lowry, Bryan Hirn, Brad Pethel, Jeff Cary, Vince Ozier and Nick Sarno were winners in the Third Flight.

Pethel advanced with a 5-and-3 win over Pat Murphy.

"I made it through, I think he caved before I did," Pethel said. "I tried to keep it in play and was able to make a few putts."

Cary bested Joel Long by a 7-and-6 margin.

"I kept the ball in play and played to my handicap," Cary said. "I parred numbers 3, 5, and 10 (all par threes) and I think that was the key to the match."

All flights will play at Shawnee Country Club Friday beginning with tee times at 7:30 a.m.