Ewald leads TGA by stroke

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jun 17, 2007 by Tim Bisel

By Tim Bisel

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Washburn's Matt Ewald made a big splash at his first Topeka Golf Association event. Now, the question is whether he will be able to finish what he started.

Ewald, who will be a junior this fall for the Ichabods, shot a 7- under 64 Saturday at Cypress Ridge Golf Course to take a one-stroke lead over Mark Elliott at the city stroke play championship. Ewald fired a 32 on each side, carding seven birdies and an eagle to more than offset bogeys at Nos. 3 and 16.

The highlight of his round came when he rolled in a 25-footer for eagle after his drive at the par-5 seventh left him only 125 yards from the green.

"If I'm hitting my driver good out here, it makes it kind of easy, just kind of makes it a wedge game," Ewald said, noting that he missed only three greens. "I was hitting my driver good and my wedges close.

"It was just kind of a good, solid day all day long. I was giving myself plenty of opportunities for birdies."

In tying the career-best 64 he posted two years ago at Overland Park Golf Course, Ewald positioned himself perfectly for a run at the crown, which will be awarded June 24 following rounds at Shawnee and Topeka country clubs. Only problem is, his schedule may prevent him from teeing it up next weekend in Topeka.

The reigning MIAA tournament champion and conference player of the year will begin play Tuesday at the 100th annual Missouri Amateur in Jefferson City. If he qualifies during stroke play and makes a deep run in match play, he will be unable to return for the final two TGA rounds.

"The Missouri Amateur's kind of a big tournament, so if I miss this at least I'll have played well in a real big tournament over there," Ewald said. "It won't be too bad, but I'd like to play in this and see how I finish. I'll probably get the best of one world."

Elliott experienced the best of the golfing world earlier this week when he traveled to Pittsburgh as an alternate for the U.S. Open. Although he wasn't allowed to play the fabled Oakmont Country Club course, Elliott spent one day standing on the range alongside Tiger Woods and J.J. Henry, another day alongside Ernie Els and Pablo Martin.

Not bad company to keep, huh?

"It was a lot of fun," said Elliott, who returned from his 14- hour drive home at 2 a.m. Friday.

Elliott's opening round at the city meet was rather enjoyable, too. Playing for the first time in nearly two weeks and with a new sand wedge he picked up at Oakmont, Elliott hit all 18 greens while carding five birdies and an eagle at the par-4 16th, where he spun a 60-degree lob wedge back 6 feet and into the cup.

Elliott would have shared the first-round lead with Ewald if not for a three-putt bogey at the 18th. Still, the left-hander insisted that final hole didn't tarnish his performance.

"Really, all you're trying to do the first two days of this is have a chance going into the country clubs," he said. "For me, this is the best round I've ever shot here.

"Today my pace was perfect. That was what I was a little leery of after putting at Oakmont. But my pace was good other than the last one, and that one I just totally misread it. So I feel all right. I mean, 18 greens in regulation, that's pretty good ball-striking."

Others who struck it well included C.C. Metzler, Derek Dultmeier and Ryan Schuetz, who were tied for third at 2-under 69. Bill Kell, Ben Moser and Gavin Tatrn carded 70s to share sixth place, and Todd Zimlich and Jeremiah Nelson finished at even-par 71.

Metzler, the city champ in 1993 and '96, was 4-under through eight holes before bogeying Nos. 9, 10 and 11.

"I came into today saying if I could shoot under par the first two days I wouldn't complain," Metzler said. "But the way I started, I was hoping for a little bit more, and then the wheels kind of came off for a few holes. I righted the ship in time to at least get it home and not do too bad."

The tournament will continue with today's second round at Western Hills.

TGA City Stroke Play

First round at Cypress Ridge GC, par 71

Results Saturday

64 - Matt Ewald

65 - Mark Elliott

69 - C.C. Metzler, Derek Dultmeier, Ryan Schuetz

70 - Bill Kell, Ben Moser, Gavin Tatrn

71 - Jeremiah Nelson, Todd Zimlich

72 - Alan Boyer, Trey Siegel

73 - Jayson Duncan, Doug Hamilton, Tanner Knowland, Jarrod Haas, Mac McFarland, Steve Gomez

74 - Matt Barker, Mick McDonald

75 - Tim Krueger, Brad Tindell

76 - Travis George, Russell Valentine, Tyler Harper, Scott Dubby

77 - Ryan Nelson, Mike Ditch, Andy Black, Sam Wempe

78 - Brandon Falley, Chris Davis, Devin Jackson, Tom Moyes, Chuck Norris

79 - Jay Summers, Johnny Duncan, Dave Carson

80 - Eric Kolean, Jake Moore, Todd Burnett, Marcus Willmore, Trace McDiffett

81 - Tim Hughes, Fran Matthias, Jeff Meyer

82 - Matthew Goodlove, Brad Foster

83 - Chris Grause, Brent Ireland, Patrick Shaw

84 - John Herman, Josh Thompson, Alex Scheidegger, Jimmy Monson

85 - Ray Buschbaum

86 - Ron Reust, Don Jacobs, Braxton Ball

87 - Randy Rosebaugh

88 - John Berberich

89 - Frank Schneider, Mark Matyak

90 - Mike Rapp, Steve Coleman

94 - Stan Emerson