GOLF: County Am rookie Kris Jackson takes first-day lead
Published 11:28 pm Saturday, May 24, 2008
Saturday was Kris Jackson’s debut in the Snohomish County Amateur golf tournament, so a bout of first-time jitters would have been completely understandable.
Instead, the 18-year-old Jackson was absolutely steady throughout the day, rolling in six birdies with a sole bogey at Legion Memorial Golf Course for a round of 5-under-par 67 and the first-day lead at the 78th-annual County Am.
Jackson, a 2007 graduate of Lynnwood High School and a member of the Bellevue Community College golf team, played in the day’s first foursome and put up a score that held its place atop the leaderboard the rest of the day.
“I played solid,” said Jackson, who now lives in Snohomish and represents Snohomish Golf Course. “I hit the ball well and I putted really well.
“It’s usually at the start of the round where I figure out it’s going to be one of those (good) days,” he said. “Today I was hitting the ball solid off the tee. Just easy swings. Not swinging real hard to rip it out there. Just consistent. Hitting the ball and it was going straight.”
Jackson’s sole bogey came on the par-3 No. 9 hole, when he pushed his tee shot right of the green and then mis-hit a short flop shot. He still had a chance to save par, but his 15-footer lipped the cup.
But he more than made up for that blemish with birdies on the second, fourth, seventh, 10th, 15th and 17th holes. The last one of those might have been his best as Jackson, playing from a fairway bunker, hit a wedge from 105 yards to 10 feet and rolled in the birdie putt.
“That was a good recovery,” he said.
Though this is his County Am debut, Jackson has tournament experience from his recent college season. And he is comfortable in a tournament setting because “I tend to bear down and concentrate more.”
“Knowing that I’m putting well and hitting the ball well, it really helps with my confidence going into the next round,” he added. “I’ve got a lot of confidence going into (today).”
Trailing Jackson by a single shot is Kelly Denessen of Mill Creek Country Club, who put together five birdies and one bogey for a round of 4-under 68.
“I hit it really good,” Denessen said. “I think I missed three or four fairways (off the tee) and three greens (in regulation) all day.
“I started off on the first hole strong with about a 6-footer for birdie and had a smile on my face. And I kept it there most of the day. … When you’re hitting it (well) and it’s enjoyable, you don’t want the holes to end.”
Jackson and Denessen were two of five golfers to crack par at Legion Memorial. The others were Ali Farzan of Legion Memorial at 3-under 69, Paul Bonorden of Mill Creek at 2-under 70, and Jeff Strickland of Mukilteo’s Harbour Pointe Golf Course at 1-under 71.
Defending champion Alex Stamey of Everett Golf and Country Club, who is seeking his fourth County Am title, had what he called a “disappointing” day. Stamey had three birdies and three bogeys to finish at even-par 72, but missed on several chances to save strokes with his putter.
“I didn’t hit the ball that badly,” Stamey said, “but my putter cost me five shots today. And that’s usually my strength. … I turned a 69 into a 72 today with my putter.”
Also at 72 is four-time winner Todd Tibke of Snohomish.
Most of the golfers in the field were prepared for overcast skies or perhaps even rain, but the day dawned clear and soon grew warm.
“It was absolutely perfect,” Stamey said. “We had all our raingear with us, but it was 65 degrees and no wind. A perfect day.”
Bill Harman and Kyle Ruth, both of Marysville’s Cedarcrest Golf Course, were the low-net leaders of the second division, for golfers with handicaps from 5.7 to 11.9. Both opened with 66s at Cedarcrest.
Tom Morris of Mill Creek was the low-net leader of the third division, for golfers with handicaps of 12.0 and higher. He fired a 60 at Cedarcrest.
The first division will play its second round today at Cedarcrest. The second and third divisions will play today at Everett Golf and Country Club.
