Benzel trails by a stroke at Washington Open

Published 12:09 am Wednesday, May 19, 2010

BELLEVUE — Ryan Benzel of Bothell saw his first-day lead slip away with a Tuesday round he described as “a little bit up and down,” but he remains very much in contention heading into today’s final round of the 84th-annual Washington Open golf tournament at Glendale Country Club.

Benzel, a teaching pro at Marysville’s Battle Creek Golf Course, had two birdies and two bogeys in an even-par round of 71 to drop one stroke behind second-round leader Jeff Coston, a three-time tournament champ.

Coston followed a first-round 68 with a 66 on Tuesday for a two-day total of 8-under-par 134. Benzel, who opened with a sparkling 64 for a two-shot lead, is tied for second at 7-under 135 with Brent Murray, the head pro at Oswego Lake Country Club.

“I didn’t quite hit the ball as well (Tuesday) as I did (Monday),” said the 31-year-old Benzel, “and because of that I wasn’t giving myself as many birdie opportunities. And the times I did, I never really was able to get good reads on putts. Then when I thought I was hitting good putts, they weren’t going in.

“It was just one of those days. But it’s still nice to shoot even par when you’re not playing very well.”

Heading into today’s final round, “it’d be nice to be leading,” Benzel said. “But it’s also kind of fun to chase down somebody. … I’m expecting to play better (today), and I still have all the confidence in the world that I can shoot a good score.”

After mostly sunny skies for Monday’s first round, Benzel played about five of his 18 holes Tuesday in the rain.

“It was also a little breezy at times,” said Benzel, “and there was kind of a sideways rain at times with the wind. It was kind of a mix of everything. It was coats on and coats off, umbrella up and umbrella down, all day long.”

The leaderboard is tightly bunched with nine players within six shots of Coston. Scott Williams, Glendale CC’s teaching pro, is one of two players tied for fourth at 5-under 142.

David Phay, of Oak Harbor’s Whidbey Golf and Country Club, is one of two players tied for ninth at 2-under 140.

Keith Coleman, the head superintendent and an assistant pro at Mukilteo’s Harbour Pointe Golf Course, moved up the leaderboard with a second-round 69. Coleman, a two-time tournament winner, is one of three players tied for 13th at even-par 142.