Golf: Corporon completes impressive three-peat
By Barry Poe Journal sports writer | Posted: Wednesday, May 21, 2008
It lacked the drama that the last two Tri-State Masters have produced, but Ayron Corporon's victory Sunday in Sioux City's first "major" tournament of the season was nonetheless impressive.
Just to put things into perspective, winning a golf tournament three times in a row is hard enough. But to three-peat in an event held on three different golf courses is even more difficult.
So the fact that the 27-year-old former East High and Creighton University player led wire-to-wire, holding off challenges from a host of talented linksters, should be duly noted.
Corporon was actually tied with young Adam Fields, who in time will win his share of tournaments, for the lead after the first round, held at Two Rivers Golf Club. They each shaved two strokes off par for a 68, then Corporon shot 1-under 70 at Covington Links on Saturday, taking a two-shot lead over former Two Rivers, Dakota Dunes Country Club and Green Valley head pro Bret Taylor.
Taylor, a Council Bluffs, Iowa, resident who regained his amateur status a couple of weeks ago, gave chase in the final round Sunday at Green Valley, as did veteran Jim Anderson. Playing in the final group with Corporon, both Taylor and Anderson wound up a stroke back.
If not for a couple of missed putts, Anderson could very well have added the Tri-State Masters to his list of "major" victories. The Sergeant Bluff resident has won two Men's City, two Interstate Amateur and one River-Cade title.
Taylor admitted he shot himself in the foot in the opening round on Sunday with a 4-over-par 40. Neither player made a serious challenge on the back nine and Corporon was able to win despite making bogey on the last three holes.
The question arose following the tournament why the scores weren't lower on Sunday. Temperatures were in the mid-70s, but a stiff breeze was blowing out of the north.
None of the championship flight players broke par and only one, Todd Sapp, shot even-par 72. Corporon, in fact, shot 77.
"Even par was a good score on Sunday and I think that was maybe low," said Corporon. "It was out there, but much beyond that you would have to have had a really hot putter. The wind was blowing out of the north, which made the par-5s tough. I was just lucky nobody came up from behind."
Corporon said the key to his victory was the 70 he carded at Covington Links on Saturday.
"When I made eagle on 15, it just kind of fell into place," said the Tyson Foods accountant. "It just kind of happened."
Speaking of three-peats, J.D. Anderson of West Des Moines has won the last three Interstate titles. The 72nd renewal of that event, held at Two Rivers, is June 6-7.
Corporon, though, won't be competing in the season's second "major." Instead, he'll be playing the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.
Not a bad tradeoff.
So what did Ayron Corporon have in his "Coors Light" bag en route to his victory in the Tri-State Masters?
The three-time champ played Titleist 755s irons (3 through pitching wedge). His ball of choice was the Titleist Pro V1X and he teed off with a Ping G5 driver with a factory stiff shaft.
Corporon's wedges were 56 and 52-degree Vokeys and a 60-degree Cleveland lob wedge. The oldest club in his bag, by the way, was a Calloway War Bird 3-wood.
The Tri-State Masters was once again a smashing success, with all three courses in great condition. The staffs at Two Rivers, Covington and Green Valley should be commended for their hard work in preparing for the tournament.
It should be noted that this scribe, who wallowed along in the fifth flight, spent a good portion of Saturday hitting in, around and over trees at Covington Links. A medal of honor should be presented to Mike Gregg, Ron DeLucchi (the No. 12 overall pick in the 1983 major league baseball draft) and Rick Nearman for having to endure playing with me. Mike, in fact, was lucky enough to be paired with me all weekend and somehow survived to play another day.
Championship flight qualifiers in the Tri-State Masters earned automatic berths in the first Dakotas Dunes Super Amateur Championship set for Sept. 20-21 at Dakota Dunes Country Club.
Other qualifying criteria for the first amateur tournament at The Dunes include:
Any Dakota Dunes member in good standing, the top third of the field in the Interstate Amateur, championship flight qualifiers from the River-Cade and those who make the cut for the final nine holes in the Men's City Championship.
Journal sports writer Barry Poe can be reached at (712) 293-4205 or e-mail barrypoe@siouxcityjournal.com
Just to put things into perspective, winning a golf tournament three times in a row is hard enough. But to three-peat in an event held on three different golf courses is even more difficult.
So the fact that the 27-year-old former East High and Creighton University player led wire-to-wire, holding off challenges from a host of talented linksters, should be duly noted.
Corporon was actually tied with young Adam Fields, who in time will win his share of tournaments, for the lead after the first round, held at Two Rivers Golf Club. They each shaved two strokes off par for a 68, then Corporon shot 1-under 70 at Covington Links on Saturday, taking a two-shot lead over former Two Rivers, Dakota Dunes Country Club and Green Valley head pro Bret Taylor.
Taylor, a Council Bluffs, Iowa, resident who regained his amateur status a couple of weeks ago, gave chase in the final round Sunday at Green Valley, as did veteran Jim Anderson. Playing in the final group with Corporon, both Taylor and Anderson wound up a stroke back.
If not for a couple of missed putts, Anderson could very well have added the Tri-State Masters to his list of "major" victories. The Sergeant Bluff resident has won two Men's City, two Interstate Amateur and one River-Cade title.
Taylor admitted he shot himself in the foot in the opening round on Sunday with a 4-over-par 40. Neither player made a serious challenge on the back nine and Corporon was able to win despite making bogey on the last three holes.
The question arose following the tournament why the scores weren't lower on Sunday. Temperatures were in the mid-70s, but a stiff breeze was blowing out of the north.
None of the championship flight players broke par and only one, Todd Sapp, shot even-par 72. Corporon, in fact, shot 77.
"Even par was a good score on Sunday and I think that was maybe low," said Corporon. "It was out there, but much beyond that you would have to have had a really hot putter. The wind was blowing out of the north, which made the par-5s tough. I was just lucky nobody came up from behind."
Corporon said the key to his victory was the 70 he carded at Covington Links on Saturday.
"When I made eagle on 15, it just kind of fell into place," said the Tyson Foods accountant. "It just kind of happened."
Speaking of three-peats, J.D. Anderson of West Des Moines has won the last three Interstate titles. The 72nd renewal of that event, held at Two Rivers, is June 6-7.
Corporon, though, won't be competing in the season's second "major." Instead, he'll be playing the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.
Not a bad tradeoff.
So what did Ayron Corporon have in his "Coors Light" bag en route to his victory in the Tri-State Masters?
The three-time champ played Titleist 755s irons (3 through pitching wedge). His ball of choice was the Titleist Pro V1X and he teed off with a Ping G5 driver with a factory stiff shaft.
Corporon's wedges were 56 and 52-degree Vokeys and a 60-degree Cleveland lob wedge. The oldest club in his bag, by the way, was a Calloway War Bird 3-wood.
The Tri-State Masters was once again a smashing success, with all three courses in great condition. The staffs at Two Rivers, Covington and Green Valley should be commended for their hard work in preparing for the tournament.
It should be noted that this scribe, who wallowed along in the fifth flight, spent a good portion of Saturday hitting in, around and over trees at Covington Links. A medal of honor should be presented to Mike Gregg, Ron DeLucchi (the No. 12 overall pick in the 1983 major league baseball draft) and Rick Nearman for having to endure playing with me. Mike, in fact, was lucky enough to be paired with me all weekend and somehow survived to play another day.
Championship flight qualifiers in the Tri-State Masters earned automatic berths in the first Dakotas Dunes Super Amateur Championship set for Sept. 20-21 at Dakota Dunes Country Club.
Other qualifying criteria for the first amateur tournament at The Dunes include:
Any Dakota Dunes member in good standing, the top third of the field in the Interstate Amateur, championship flight qualifiers from the River-Cade and those who make the cut for the final nine holes in the Men's City Championship.
Journal sports writer Barry Poe can be reached at (712) 293-4205 or e-mail barrypoe@siouxcityjournal.com
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