Engel and Steve Lead After Opening Round of Four-Ball
INDIANA, Pa. - Thomas Steve and Grant Engel figured out the easiest path to success in a four-ball competition today at Indiana Country Club.
"Thankfully, we weren't making birdies on the same holes," said Steve.
Steve and Engel may have been exaggerating a bit on that note, as each shot under par on his own ball en route to a team score of 62 (-9) to set the pace after round one of the 26th Pennsylvania Four-Ball Championship, presented by Allegheny Health Network.
Steve, of Valley Brook Country Club, and Engel, of St. Clair Country Club, used precision everywhere on the golf course, from tee to green, in their bogey-free better-ball round to grab a one-shot lead over the team of Craig Hornberger and J.D. Dornes and the team of Eric Williams and James Gardas. With calmer conditions in the morning came lower scores. But with a blustery, windy afternoon, birdies were hard to come by for those teeing off later in the day.
It was a good start for Steve and Engel as they birdied the par 5 11th hole after starting on the back nine, the first of four birdies in as many tries on the par 5s for the day. They also closed each nine successfully, with birdies at No. 8 and No. 9 as well as No. 17 and No. 18.
"Neither of us put ourselves out of position off the tee even once today. We were both able to hit greens all day," said Engel.
And once they hit those greens, the putts were falling with regularity on the day.
"When you have two looks at birdie, it's a lot different. You have the confidence to give one of them a run," said Engel.
Meanwhile, Lancaster Country Club's Hornberger and Meadia Heights Golf Club's Dornes were putting together a great round of their own. Also starting on the back nine, they birdied holes 11, 14 and 16 to make the turn at 32. On the front nine, three straight birdies starting on the fourth hole got them to -7 for the day, and they closed in style with a birdie on the par-4 9th hole.
Williams and Gardas, on the other hand, didn't tee off until 11:45 a.m., making their round even more impressive with the tough afternoon conditions. Both hailing from Honesdale Golf Club, they started on the front nine and came out of the gate with birdies on the opening two and four of the first five holes. Following a birdie at the 8th hole, they were an impressive -4 on the day. They sandwiched a birdie on No. 11 around bogeys on No. 10 and No. 12 before closing with four birdies in a six-hole stretch to card a 63. The 10 team birdies were the highest number recorded by any squad on the day.
A trio of teams are just off the lead at -6 - Oliver White and Collin Haag, Brendan Gramley and Matt Gurska, and Nicolas Milito and Rick Stimmel.
The second and final round will begin tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. The leaders will tee off at 1 p.m.