Dave Watts is the defending city golf champion. In fact, he’s won two of the last three Emporia City Championships and will be going for three out of four this weekend. Other players call him the favorite.
And yet, Watts feels ancient in the presence of some of the golfers who will try to knock him off.
“The older I get, the tougher the competition gets — that’s how it works,” he said. “I’m like an old man out there now, (and) I’m not 40.
“But no, there’s some kids out there that hit it hard. It’s gonna be interesting. I would say this may be the toughest competition that they’ve ever had at the city tournament.”
Yes, youth will be well-represented during Saturday’s action at the Emporia Country Club and Sunday’s closing day at Emporia Municipal Golf Course. There are former Emporia High and current Pittsburg State golfers Fletcher Harder and Bren Fisher, for example. Harder finished second behind Watts at last year’s event, tying Barry Muninger at three strokes back and then winning a one-hole playoff. He also finished in a second-place tie in 2007. Fisher finished his freshman season at Pitt State by tying for 11th place at the MIAA Championships last spring, earning all-conference honorable mention. In 2007, Fisher shared the lead at the city tournament after Day One.
“The last few years, I felt like I could (win it) — I’ve been right there the last several years,” Harder said. “And I’ve been in position like I wanted to, but just never really was able to get over the hump. But I’ve been playing pretty good this year, and I do feel like I actually have a pretty good chance this year.”
Another former Emporia High standout from earlier in this decade, Brian Lawson, figures to be a good candidate to challenge Watts as well. Lawson was the Class 6A State champion in 2002 during his junior year at EHS.
“There’s a lot of young kids playing extremely well,” Watts said. “So it’ll be whoever gets their putter working, and that’s usually how it goes.”
But even if Watts can be considered an “old man” of the tournament, the younger golfers are respecting their elder. Not only has Watts won two of the last three city titles, but he might well have completed a three-peat last year had he played in 2007; Watts missed the city tourney that year to compete in another tournament.
“Dave just hits the ball so well, so straight and he’s so accurate,” Fisher said. “When Dave’s out there on the golf course, he just blends right in with all of us. It doesn’t seem like he’s any older than us. He’s got just as much game, and he’s got just as much willpower and want as we do, and that’s what’s most impressive about Dave.”
Watts’ two-day score last year was 137. In 2006, he came back from five strokes down to tie Dale McCabe, then won his first city title on a one-hole playoff.
“He’s really consistent,” Harder said, “and that’s what you need to win golf tournaments. He doesn’t make too many mistakes. He doesn’t hit the ball as far as some of the guys, but he has a really good short game, and he wants to win.”
Both Fisher and Marcus Erkel, who also will be competing this weekend, called Watts the favorite to win this weekend. Erkel believes he has a chance to be in the championship chase and also ticked off the names of Fisher, Harder, Lawson, Chris Vahsholtz, Todd Preisner and Mike Guion.
“Chris Vahsholtz and Brian Lawson are playing fantastic right now,” Erkel said. “So I think they’re gonna do pretty well.”
Harder was on back-to-back EHS teams that finished second at the State tournament, along with Fisher and Matt McAnarney, who also will be competing in this weekend’s tourney. After coming so close, Harder would love to finally end his string of second-place finishes and add a city championship to his list of accomplishments.
“Because the city golf tournament isn’t a tournament you play in to make money,” Harder said. “Because there’s not a lot of money in it. It’s just one of those tournaments, you’re playing in it for pride, and to be called the best golfer in Emporia.”
The city championship begins Saturday morning at the country club with the first group — Watts, Harder, Lawson and Chad Buchholz — teeing off at 8:30 a.m.
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
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August 8, 2009 at 8:46 p.m. ( permalink )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
i agree with george will who said, sports serve society by providing vivid examples of excellence.
August 9, 2009 at 9:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )