Bomar leads Chrysler Open
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Billy Bomar hits his tee shot on the No. 2 hole Saturday during the Kenai Chrysler Open. He leads the tournament with a score of 69.
Photo by M. Scott Moon
It could be another good year for Billy Bomar.
The Anchorage pro, who already has two Kenai Chrysler Open titles (2001, 2003) to his credit, fired a stellar, 69 Saturday at the Kenai Golf Course to take a two-stroke lead over Louie Rungie and Scott Taylor in the tournament's opening round.
"I hit the ball really good today," Bomar said following his round.
Bomar made five birdies on the day with just two bogeys, including a three-putt on the sixth hole. With Taylor and Rungie at his heels, however, Bomar said he's not taking anything for granted going into today's final round.
"It's not a course where you're ever going to say you're going to win or even say you're going to make birdie," Bomar said.
Taylor said he's hoping to come out today and stay within reach of Bomar. With the Kenai Golf Course's difficult rough, Taylor said all the golfers know that one mistake can turn a good round into a monster.
"A couple holes could decide the entire tournament," Taylor said.
Brian Cupit putts on the No. 1 green Saturday.
Photo by M. Scott Moon
James Contreras shot a 73 to hold down fourth place, while Doug Schmit was at 74 in fifth.
Golfers said the course was in great shape Saturday, with sunny skies and greens that were softened up by rain earlier in the week. Normally, a score of around par is good enough to win the tournament, and after hearing of Bomar's shining round, rules official Doug Haralson hinted the course could get tougher today.
"69? Boy, those pins are going to get moved tomorrow," Haralson joked with Bomar.
Not everyone had as easy of a time with the course as the lead group. Rich Lundahl — who shot a course-record 66 in the pro-am event Thursday — limped home with a 79 Saturday. Never one to get too upset, however, Lundahl was in a joking mood despite being 10 shots off the pace after the first round.
"I kept getting bad bounces off the club face," Lundahl said.
In the amateur division, Brandon Kaiser shot a 74 to take a six-shot lead over Doug Jung in the championship amateur flight. In the first flight, Beau Forest shot an 81 to give himself a four-shot cushion over Curtis Smith and Tom Reese.
Bill Engberg pitches to the No. 1 green Saturday morning during the Kenai Chrysler Open underway at the Kenai Golf Course.
Photo by M. Scott Moon
In the second flight, Steve Dexheimer shot an 87 to put him two shots up on Mike Chenault and Dan Cabrera. Mike Koskinas leads the third flight after shooting a first-round 95, one shot better than Cliff Baker.
With $35,000 in prize money — $7,000 to the winner — up for grabs today, it's likely the pros at the top of the leader board will be in quite a fight. Just two off the pace, Taylor said he is expecting nothing less than a battle between the top players.
"Today you just don't want to hurt yourself. You've just got to put yourself in a position to have a chance to win tomorrow," he said. "It should be fun."
If Taylor, Rungie and the others want to rattle Bomar, however, they'll have to be on top of their games. Relaxing near the clubhouse following Saturday's play, Bomar was more interested in talking about how much fun he's having at the tournament than trying to figure out how to earn a third title.
"The golf course is in great shape, the dinners we get every night and the weather are all wonderful," he said. "Everything is good out here."
Kenai Chrysler Open
Saturday
At Kenai Golf Course
Purse: $35,000
First Round
Professionals
Billy Bomar 69
Louie Rungie 71
Scott Taylor 71
James Contreras 73
Doug Schmit 74
Aaron Dexheimer 75
Jim Carson 76
Jim Hennesy 77
Ryan Sparks 77
Mark England 78
Rich Lundahl 79
Mark Dolejsi 80
Bill Engberg 80
Mark Matarrese 80
Trevis Kordus 81
Bryan Anderson 82
John McBride 82
Joe Butler 84
Brian Cupit 84
Zac Gavlak 84
Don Moock 87
Jeff Barnhart 91
Championship Amateur
Brandon Kaiser 74
Doug Jung 80
Billy Applewhite 81
Josh Lansing 84
Rene Alvarez 85
Chris Sonnichsen 85
Pete Wetzell 92
Eldon Harvey 94
Gordon Griffin 95
Todd Eskelin 99
Lorne Smagge 99
1st Amateur
Beau Forest 81
Tom Reese 85
Curtis Smith 85
Mike Navarre 87
James Seal 90
Dwight Kramer 91
Jeff Sinz 93
Barry Jackman 113
2nd Amateur
Steve Dexheimer 87
Dan Cabrera 89
Mike Chenault 89
Bill Burtram 90
Mike Spiesak 93
Norton Dablemont 100
Eddie Sibolboro 105
3rd Amateur
Mike Koskinas 95
Cliff Baker 96
Keith Stuart 100
Earl Frawner 102
Dan Fagan 108
Juan Botero 110
Harold Flood 111
Paul Morrison 119