Corporon repeats as Tri-State Masters champion
Edges Donaldson by one stroke
By Barry Poe, Journal sports writer | Posted: Monday, May 07, 2007
To a man, everyone agreed that the weather was the big winner in the third annual Tri-State Masters golf tournament.
But, it is early May and the show must go on, despite the unpredictable conditions in this part of the country.
On Sunday, with the wind again howling and plenty of water standing at Green Valley Golf Course, Ayron Corporon persevered for a repeat victory in this unique event. Corporon edged Jeff Donaldson by one shot in the season's first of four "major" tournaments in Sioux City.
Corporon, who trailed Donaldson by two shots entering Sunday's final round, shot 38-38--76 over the last 18 holes in the 54-hole tournament. The 26-year-old accountant at Tyson Foods had a 67 in the opening round Friday at Two Rivers Golf Club at Dakota Dunes and a 77 Saturday at Covington Links in South Sioux City.
It took a curling 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole for Corporon to overtake Donaldson, who then rifled a tremendous shot through the wind to within 10 feet on No. 18. His birdie putt, which would have forced a playoff, slid just past the hole.
"That was a tough battle out there today," said Corporon, who finished at 220. "I got lucky yesterday that my score wasn't a lot worse than 77 and I was lucky today that it wasn't a lot worse than 76.
"It was just like last year, you have to have certain breaks to win and it turned out the same result, so I'm pretty thrilled."
Donaldson shot 38-41--79 on Sunday after opening with 68 on his home course Friday and following up with an impressive 74 in brutally windy conditions Saturday.
"I don't think Ayron or I really played our best today, but when you've got wind and pressure, it's tough," said Donaldson. "We both played tough on the last two holes and he made a key birdie on 17.
"We were both kind of gagging it away there, giving it back and forth, but Ayron is a great guy and a great player and he deserves to win."
Bob Brummel of Orange City finished alone in third place at 72-74-76--222 while Sioux Cityan Dale Erwin claimed fourth with 73-76-75--224 and Adam Fields, another Sioux City resident, was fifth with a 71-79-75--225.
Brian Schultz of Le Mars, the reigning River-Cade champion, had the low round on Sunday of even-par 72.
Each of the final two combatants shot 2-over 38 on their first nine holes Sunday. Corporon made a key birdie on No. 9, a 399-yard par-4 that played into the wind. That kept him two shots behind heading into the final nine holes.
Donaldson ran into some bad luck on the par-5 11th, his second shot nestling next to a tree, forcing him to punch out with a left-handed swing. That led to an eventual double bogey while Corporon made par, pulling into a tie for first place.
Corporon, though, made an unforced error on the 189-yard par-3 13th, fanning his tee shot left and into a hazard. He played his second shot from thick grass and eventually scored a double bogey 5, while Donaldson made a bogey 4 after missing a five-foot par putt.
Nonetheless, Donaldson was back in front by one shot, but that lasted only one hole until Corporon knocked his approach on the par-5 14th to within a foot and tapped in for birdie. Both players bogeyed No. 15 and 16, a pair of par-4s playing directly into the wind.
Then, on the pivotal 17th, which played 223 yards from the gold (back) tees, Corporon hit a beautiful 2-iron onto the green and ran in the 20-footer for birdie. Not to be outdone, Donaldson also hit a terrific tee shot, but his 17-footer for birdie just missed.
On the last hole, Donaldson used a rescue club to knock a 170-yard shot 10 feet in back of the hole. Corporon had to play his second shot from the rough, but managed to get it to stop just off the back of the green.
He used a putter to steer it up to within five feet, then after Donaldson missed his birdie, Corporon sank his par putt for the victory.
"I thought the birdie on nine was a big turning point," said Corporon while preparing to eat his own hand-picked champions lunch of "Sneaky's" chicken, fruit salad and green beans. "On 17, I bunted a little 2-iron up there and I'm going to remember that putt for a long time. It was a bender, no doubt about it.
"After Jeff hit that great shot on 18, I was sitting there in the rough hoping to get a flyer so I could get it to the hole. I hit a great shot up there and then two-putted for the win.
"This is an unbelievable feeling for me. I've been struggling with my putting lately, but I've just been fighting through it. It's early in the year and I think the scores reflect that, but we'll just keep on fighting."
Donaldson must feel a little snakebitten after his third runner-up finish in his last four majors. The former North High and Briar Cliff basketball standout was second in last year's Interstate and Men's City tournaments.
"As Ray Nacke used to tell me at Briar Cliff, you have to overcome adversity, but I didn't today," said Donaldson. "I'm not disappointed because second place is not bad, but if I'd have played decent, I would have won."
Jesse Lewter (83-79-78--240) won the first flight, Mike Moody (84-82-77--243) the second, Duane Herbst (85-83-83--251) the third, Emery Moody (88-90-81--259) the fourth and Kevin Lacey (84-100-89--273) the fifth.
Sioux City's next "major" tournament is the 73rd Interstate Championship, set for June 2-3 at Two Rivers. J.D. Anderson of West Des Moines has won each of the last two years.
A complete list of scores can be found on Sports Detail, page B4.
FINAL-ROUND SCORES
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Ayron Corporon 67-77-76--220
Jeff Donaldson 68-74-79--221
Bob Brummel 72-74-76--222
Dale Erwin 73-76-75--224
Adam Fields 71-79-75--225
Ben Keane 74-74-78--226
Steve Kruger 70-74-82--226
Brad Newton 71-75-80--226
Brian Schultz 77-77-72--226
Bill Mathers 76-75-76--227
Vern Van Peursem 74-78-76--228
Dan Freed 78-72-79--229
Don Droke 74-81-76--231
Ben Edwards 75-78-80--233
Jared Kvidera 74-77-83--234
Sam Prue 73-81-81--235
Chad Anderson 72-84-80--236
Pat O’Brien 74-78-84--236
Pat Schiltz 74-79-83--236
Jim Tritz 76-79-81--236
Ron Spike 77-79-81--237
Zach Mathers 74-81-84--239
Brent Mogensen 74-81-84--239
Gary Stieneke 75-81-84--240
Bret Van Riessen 78-80-83--241
Mike Kelly 80-75-87--242
Tony Ginger 79-77-87--243
Billy Keane 75-83-85--243
Tom Yaneff 76-81-86--243
Pat Burks 68-86-91--245
Bob Roe Jr. 72-85-88--245
Jim LeMoine 76-82-89--247
Lloyd Jenness 79-79-90--248
FIRST FLIGHT
Jesse Lewter 83-79-78--240, Larry Rubida 74-89-77--240, Tim Bauer 78-84-79--241, Jeff Warden 76-86-79--241, J.R. Trembly 80-83-80--243, Scott Knowles 79-80-85--244, Mark Brown 76-83-86--245, Bill McKenna 78-83-86--247, Cody Bobolz 80-82-86---248, Eric Bricker 81-80-89--250.
SECOND FLIGHT
Mike Moody 84-82-77--243, Paul Hyndman 76-88-80--244, M.L. Petersen 76-89-80--245, Chad Edwards 78-87-82--247, Troy Engdahl 80-84-86--250, Lance Kamrath 85-80-85--250, Ray Riefenrath 81-85-86--252, Doug Goosman 81-83-89--253, Scott Wieck 80-85-91--256, Mike Neswick 84-81-93--258, Burke Noonan 80-84-98--262.
THIRD FLIGHT
Duane Herbst 85-83-83--251, Greg Thousand 85-82-84--251, Collin Breyfogle 77-90-85--252, Dan Gates 84-89-83--256, Max McDonald 77-91-88--256, Gar Lenz 84-87-89--260, Curtis Beers 88-82-91--261, Rory Jansen 83-85-94--262, John Lacey 82-93-87--262, Fred Stinger 91-84-90--265, Rich Brown 88-87-92--267, Jerry Gengler 87-88-96--271.
FOURTH FLIGHT
Emery Moody 88-90-81--259, Josh Cedar 91-87-86--264, Doug Lacey 93-84-89--266, Jim Buttermore 86-93-88--267, Dave Swearingen 93-87-88--268, Tim Van Peursem 82-97-90--269, Tom Leitschuck 92-88-94--274, David Jacobs 88-94-93--275, Darron Koolstra 86-93-98--277, Brett Lacey 90-93-94--277.
FIFTH FLIGHT
Kevin Lacey 84-100-89--273, Brian Meier 89-96-88--273, Brad Moody 91-94-92--277, Tony Diaz 93-91-94--278, Terry Muff 91-96-91--278, Steve Glorfield 96-97-89--282, Jerry Stinger 101-94-90--285.
But, it is early May and the show must go on, despite the unpredictable conditions in this part of the country.
On Sunday, with the wind again howling and plenty of water standing at Green Valley Golf Course, Ayron Corporon persevered for a repeat victory in this unique event. Corporon edged Jeff Donaldson by one shot in the season's first of four "major" tournaments in Sioux City.
Corporon, who trailed Donaldson by two shots entering Sunday's final round, shot 38-38--76 over the last 18 holes in the 54-hole tournament. The 26-year-old accountant at Tyson Foods had a 67 in the opening round Friday at Two Rivers Golf Club at Dakota Dunes and a 77 Saturday at Covington Links in South Sioux City.
It took a curling 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole for Corporon to overtake Donaldson, who then rifled a tremendous shot through the wind to within 10 feet on No. 18. His birdie putt, which would have forced a playoff, slid just past the hole.
"That was a tough battle out there today," said Corporon, who finished at 220. "I got lucky yesterday that my score wasn't a lot worse than 77 and I was lucky today that it wasn't a lot worse than 76.
"It was just like last year, you have to have certain breaks to win and it turned out the same result, so I'm pretty thrilled."
Donaldson shot 38-41--79 on Sunday after opening with 68 on his home course Friday and following up with an impressive 74 in brutally windy conditions Saturday.
"I don't think Ayron or I really played our best today, but when you've got wind and pressure, it's tough," said Donaldson. "We both played tough on the last two holes and he made a key birdie on 17.
"We were both kind of gagging it away there, giving it back and forth, but Ayron is a great guy and a great player and he deserves to win."
Bob Brummel of Orange City finished alone in third place at 72-74-76--222 while Sioux Cityan Dale Erwin claimed fourth with 73-76-75--224 and Adam Fields, another Sioux City resident, was fifth with a 71-79-75--225.
Brian Schultz of Le Mars, the reigning River-Cade champion, had the low round on Sunday of even-par 72.
Each of the final two combatants shot 2-over 38 on their first nine holes Sunday. Corporon made a key birdie on No. 9, a 399-yard par-4 that played into the wind. That kept him two shots behind heading into the final nine holes.
Donaldson ran into some bad luck on the par-5 11th, his second shot nestling next to a tree, forcing him to punch out with a left-handed swing. That led to an eventual double bogey while Corporon made par, pulling into a tie for first place.
Corporon, though, made an unforced error on the 189-yard par-3 13th, fanning his tee shot left and into a hazard. He played his second shot from thick grass and eventually scored a double bogey 5, while Donaldson made a bogey 4 after missing a five-foot par putt.
Nonetheless, Donaldson was back in front by one shot, but that lasted only one hole until Corporon knocked his approach on the par-5 14th to within a foot and tapped in for birdie. Both players bogeyed No. 15 and 16, a pair of par-4s playing directly into the wind.
Then, on the pivotal 17th, which played 223 yards from the gold (back) tees, Corporon hit a beautiful 2-iron onto the green and ran in the 20-footer for birdie. Not to be outdone, Donaldson also hit a terrific tee shot, but his 17-footer for birdie just missed.
On the last hole, Donaldson used a rescue club to knock a 170-yard shot 10 feet in back of the hole. Corporon had to play his second shot from the rough, but managed to get it to stop just off the back of the green.
He used a putter to steer it up to within five feet, then after Donaldson missed his birdie, Corporon sank his par putt for the victory.
"I thought the birdie on nine was a big turning point," said Corporon while preparing to eat his own hand-picked champions lunch of "Sneaky's" chicken, fruit salad and green beans. "On 17, I bunted a little 2-iron up there and I'm going to remember that putt for a long time. It was a bender, no doubt about it.
"After Jeff hit that great shot on 18, I was sitting there in the rough hoping to get a flyer so I could get it to the hole. I hit a great shot up there and then two-putted for the win.
"This is an unbelievable feeling for me. I've been struggling with my putting lately, but I've just been fighting through it. It's early in the year and I think the scores reflect that, but we'll just keep on fighting."
Donaldson must feel a little snakebitten after his third runner-up finish in his last four majors. The former North High and Briar Cliff basketball standout was second in last year's Interstate and Men's City tournaments.
"As Ray Nacke used to tell me at Briar Cliff, you have to overcome adversity, but I didn't today," said Donaldson. "I'm not disappointed because second place is not bad, but if I'd have played decent, I would have won."
Jesse Lewter (83-79-78--240) won the first flight, Mike Moody (84-82-77--243) the second, Duane Herbst (85-83-83--251) the third, Emery Moody (88-90-81--259) the fourth and Kevin Lacey (84-100-89--273) the fifth.
Sioux City's next "major" tournament is the 73rd Interstate Championship, set for June 2-3 at Two Rivers. J.D. Anderson of West Des Moines has won each of the last two years.
A complete list of scores can be found on Sports Detail, page B4.
FINAL-ROUND SCORES
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Ayron Corporon 67-77-76--220
Jeff Donaldson 68-74-79--221
Bob Brummel 72-74-76--222
Dale Erwin 73-76-75--224
Adam Fields 71-79-75--225
Ben Keane 74-74-78--226
Steve Kruger 70-74-82--226
Brad Newton 71-75-80--226
Brian Schultz 77-77-72--226
Bill Mathers 76-75-76--227
Vern Van Peursem 74-78-76--228
Dan Freed 78-72-79--229
Don Droke 74-81-76--231
Ben Edwards 75-78-80--233
Jared Kvidera 74-77-83--234
Sam Prue 73-81-81--235
Chad Anderson 72-84-80--236
Pat O’Brien 74-78-84--236
Pat Schiltz 74-79-83--236
Jim Tritz 76-79-81--236
Ron Spike 77-79-81--237
Zach Mathers 74-81-84--239
Brent Mogensen 74-81-84--239
Gary Stieneke 75-81-84--240
Bret Van Riessen 78-80-83--241
Mike Kelly 80-75-87--242
Tony Ginger 79-77-87--243
Billy Keane 75-83-85--243
Tom Yaneff 76-81-86--243
Pat Burks 68-86-91--245
Bob Roe Jr. 72-85-88--245
Jim LeMoine 76-82-89--247
Lloyd Jenness 79-79-90--248
FIRST FLIGHT
Jesse Lewter 83-79-78--240, Larry Rubida 74-89-77--240, Tim Bauer 78-84-79--241, Jeff Warden 76-86-79--241, J.R. Trembly 80-83-80--243, Scott Knowles 79-80-85--244, Mark Brown 76-83-86--245, Bill McKenna 78-83-86--247, Cody Bobolz 80-82-86---248, Eric Bricker 81-80-89--250.
SECOND FLIGHT
Mike Moody 84-82-77--243, Paul Hyndman 76-88-80--244, M.L. Petersen 76-89-80--245, Chad Edwards 78-87-82--247, Troy Engdahl 80-84-86--250, Lance Kamrath 85-80-85--250, Ray Riefenrath 81-85-86--252, Doug Goosman 81-83-89--253, Scott Wieck 80-85-91--256, Mike Neswick 84-81-93--258, Burke Noonan 80-84-98--262.
THIRD FLIGHT
Duane Herbst 85-83-83--251, Greg Thousand 85-82-84--251, Collin Breyfogle 77-90-85--252, Dan Gates 84-89-83--256, Max McDonald 77-91-88--256, Gar Lenz 84-87-89--260, Curtis Beers 88-82-91--261, Rory Jansen 83-85-94--262, John Lacey 82-93-87--262, Fred Stinger 91-84-90--265, Rich Brown 88-87-92--267, Jerry Gengler 87-88-96--271.
FOURTH FLIGHT
Emery Moody 88-90-81--259, Josh Cedar 91-87-86--264, Doug Lacey 93-84-89--266, Jim Buttermore 86-93-88--267, Dave Swearingen 93-87-88--268, Tim Van Peursem 82-97-90--269, Tom Leitschuck 92-88-94--274, David Jacobs 88-94-93--275, Darron Koolstra 86-93-98--277, Brett Lacey 90-93-94--277.
FIFTH FLIGHT
Kevin Lacey 84-100-89--273, Brian Meier 89-96-88--273, Brad Moody 91-94-92--277, Tony Diaz 93-91-94--278, Terry Muff 91-96-91--278, Steve Glorfield 96-97-89--282, Jerry Stinger 101-94-90--285.
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