Senior 4 Ball
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50th Playing of Publinx Open Features Best of St. Louis Golf
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Updated: Tue 5/5/2009 6:32 pm
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You see a little bit of everything at the Publinx Open, and the 50th playing of the event Sunday at Forest Park was no exception.
For instance, amateur Mark Bahn had a magnificent hole-in-one with a 5-iron on Red Bud's No. 3, a 165-yard par-3 along Skinker Boulevard. And that memorable ace helped Bahn "fire" a 26-over-par 96.
So perhaps it is no surprise to hear amateur Tom Barry explain how he was able to cover 18 holes in 29 fewer strokes than Bahn and card a 3-under 67. "I didn't do anything crazy," Barry said. A tournament that processes more than 250 players in one day probably qualifies as loony by definition. But the volume and diversity of the field notwithstanding, the traditional St. Louis golf opener always features some spectacular play.
Barry's early 67 was matched a short time later by Skip Berkmeyer and then by Ted Maloney to carry the day in the amateur category. Meanwhile, Mike Suhre, of Edwardsville, had a 68 to capture the professional division and the $1,200 first-place prize, while Mark Davis and Doug Thomas both shot even-par 70 to take the senior honors. Most of the bell-ringing scores were posted before the afternoon turned wet and windy.
A week after scuffling with an 82 at the Ozark Open in Poplar Bluff, Mo., Barry knew he was in for a different day at Forest Park. On No. 1, he ripped a drive down the middle, put his second shot on the green, then rolled in a 25-foot putt for birdie, one of four birdies to smother one bogey in his round.
Barry, 46, tried the pro circuit from 1988-94. His only previous first place in the tournament was in 1991 when he shared the pro crown with Dan Grenier.
"After I hit that first drive, I was like, 'OK, what are going to do today?' " said Barry, who did not have a three-putt Sunday. "I hit it really well; I had looks at (birdie) all down the backside. But you know what, I'm just happy today. You don't take anything for granted anymore. I don't."
Berkmeyer, 35, has had at least a share of the Publinx amateur title four times. He was the qualifying medalist at the U.S. Mid-Amateur last year.
Like Barry, Berkmeyer was coming off a little adversity last weekend — scores of 77-76-80-233 at the Coleman Invitational at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla. But the seven-time Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association Player of the Year found himself at Forest Park, matching Barry's take of four birdies and one bogey.
"I played as well as I have played all year," Berkmeyer said. "I had a lot of birdie chances, missed a lot of them, but it's just good to come back and play good golf. It's fun to play the Park, period."
No one has more fun at Forest Park than Suhre, who contends in the Publinx like it's a bodily function. Suhre's 2-under card secured his sixth win overall and fourth in the last five years.
"I don't know how to explain it," he said. "It's Forest Park and Oak Brook (his home course), those are the two courses I'm most comfortable with. ... I can read the greens here, the bunkers seem like they're in the right spots, everything just looks good to me.
"I love this event. I probably stepped on somebody's line two or three times, and somebody probably stepped on mine five times. But it's the Park. Anywhere else, you'd be upset about it. Here, it's just part of it. It's just a special event."
Amateur James Trittler fired a consolation 68, while John Anderson and Paul Neeman fired 69s.
Pro Bob Gaus, an 11-time winner, joined Steve Lotz, Dave Levine and Brett Moomey with 70s.
Meanwhile, Suhre had his entire brood cheering him on, including his wife, two young sons and a six-week-old daughter. He won't be able to retire on his earnings at Forest Park. On the other hand, as he pointed out, "I need the diaper money."
In the Publinx Open, you might get a 96, you might get a hole-in-one, you might get "diaper money." It all comes with the territory.
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