No clear-cut State Am favorites yet
The first thought might be to give the edge to 1998 champion Darrin Overson, who had 11 birdies in 30 holes in winning his first two matches with relative ease. But at least three other players posted similar scores Friday, including a couple who lost.
"I know there are guys out here very capable of making seven or eight birdies in a round, so anything can still happen," said Overson, who first knocked out Kyle Chappell on Friday before eliminating medalist and former champion Michael McRae. The reinstated amateur won both matches 4 and 3.
"Once I got the lead, I tried to keep my foot on their throats," said Overson, who lost only one hole to Chappell and did not lose any holes to McRae.
Overson gets former Delta High and UNLV star Casey Fowles in today's first match, with Fowles getting past Toph Peterson and then O.J. Ainsworth on Friday, 3 and 2 and 3 and 1.
"If I go out and play the course instead of getting caught up in what he's doing, I think I'll be all right," Fowles said.
Jensen was 6-under in 15 holes in his second match Friday, and getting past a Cougar and a former Cougar gives the former Ute a lot of confidence heading into today's quarterfinal match with Dan Horner.
"I'm stunned, to be honest," Jensen said of his two quality wins. "Those guys are both great players."
Horner, a former Rutgers University golfer, can be as hot and cold as any golfer in the state. He was both on Friday but still slipped past Layton teen Brandon Kida 4 and 2 before disposing of close friend Jeff Jolley 2 and 1.
"It wasn't pretty," said Horner, who reaches the quarterfinals for the third time in the past four years. "I'm definitely going to have to play better on Saturday."
Jolley earned the right to face Horner by knocking off Ogden teen Zach Blair, who lost despite making seven birdies and no bogeys Friday morning.
Two other players advancing for a match today, who also tore it up on Friday, were Utah State's Devin Daniels and BYU's Robbie Fillmore. Daniels, after knocking off Michael Curtis 3 and 1 Friday morning, found himself in a dogfight in Round 2 with John Owen. In fact, Daniels shot 5-under on the front side and began the back nine all square. He finally edged Owen 1-up with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 16th.
Recent comments
Good luck Robbie and Darrin. Represent!
fore | July 12, 2008 at 5:03 p.m.
You clearly do not know Carl Jensen and your comment is extremely...
Re: Jensen Open | July 12, 2008 at 3:13 p.m.
There is no other sport that has as many CC kids as golf. As a result...
RE: Jensen Open | July 12, 2008 at 2:59 p.m.
