Westwood Invitational: Hill knows about putting it all together

By John Shinn

It may be hard for most golfers to admit it, but when it comes to count-every-stroke tournament play, most leave their best golf at home or in the trunk. It’s true for low-handicappers just as it’s true for high-handicappers.

Some would say it’s the pressure. Being out of a certain comfort zone is the more likely culprit. Most are used to playing with family or friends or on familiar courses. Changing up the routine is paid for in extra strokes.

Some, though, handle it better than others. They’re the ones who regularly contend. Curtis Hill is one of those guys even if he was having a hard time admitting it Friday after the first round of the Westwood Invitational Presented by Oklahomatickets.com at Westwood Park Golf Course.

“I didn’t have it today,” he said after posting a 76 in Masters Flight.

It the first day and he’s only six shots off the leaders’ pace.

There’s still two more rounds to play and Hill has a penchant for being there in the end. He moved up to Masters Flight this year, but he’s already claimed a Second Flight title in 1994 and a pair of First Flight victories in 2001 and 2004.

“Some guys out there don’t seem to be able to concentrate,” Hill said. “I’ve just always seemed to concentrate a little better when I play in this tournament.”

You’ll have to give him some slack if his focus slips from time to time. He is one of the many unpaid volunteers who help during the tournament’s three-day run. He’s a consistent presence at the scoreboard after he finishes playing his early-morning round, which began at 7 a.m. Friday. The last scorecards were finally added up a little before 8 p.m. Friday night.

The long days aren’t exactly ideal for those trying to win a golf tournament. Then again, Hill has done it all before.

“That’s the thing about this tournament: For some guys, it seems to all come together or maybe they just get lucky,” he said. “For other guys, nothing happens. You never know until you start playing.”

Championship Flight

With light winds throughout the morning, most of the tournament’s top flight had no problem getting birdie putts to fall. Over half the 27-player field posted red numbers. Taylor Artman and Sam Powell inflicted the most damage to par. Both shot 65 to claim the early lead.

Both have a lot of tournament experience very close behind.

Kelsey Cline and Westwood Park assistant professional Rick Parish both shot 66. Mark Austin fired a 67. Scott Kedy, Ryan Rainer, Michael Higgins and Freddie Wisdom both shot 68.

Cline is the tournament’s defending champion and also won it in 2006. Rainer claimed the title in 2005 and Wisdom claimed the event’s premiere flight in 1998 and 2000.

Masters Flight

After 18 holes it became pretty clear Masters Flight would be more marathon than a sprint. Despite the benign conditions, nobody broke par and 20 of the flight’s 26 players were within five shots of the lead at the end of the day.

The lead is shared by Mike Ford, Jere Peer and Brent Westfall. All three shot even par Friday morning. A group of six — Gary Bonner, Larry Johnson, Mike McCurdy, Gary Stout, Scott Ward and David Hayward — are all one shot back at 1 over. Kyle Kopp, Ryan Munson and Pat Proctor all turned in 72s and enter the second round two shots back.

First Flight

Jeff Morris posted the only under par round by a player outside of Championship Flight. It might seem like a big deal, but his 69 was only enough to get him a one-shot cushion heading into today. Greg England fired a 70 and Bill McConnell turned in a 72. Clay Horning Ameil Shadid, Mike Vaughn and Ron Waters all finished the day at 3 over, four shots behind Morris.

Second Flight

Sean Simpson plowed through Westwood Park with a 75 and will take a one-shot lead into today’s second round. As it is in most flights, Simpson’s lead is slight. David Hendrix, Alan McCalip, John Ritz and David Smelser all shot 76. Billy Boswell and Rex Moore are two shots back after both carded 77.

Third Flight

Joe Ferguson edged to the top of the leaderboard with a 74 and a one-shot advantage going into the middle round. Jeff Fugate and Darryl Overturf both shot 75. Mike Pierce and Felton Stroud were two shots off Ferguson’s pace at six over. Tim Barrett, Kenny Hines, Frank Schield and Mark Trimmer all put themselves in contention with opening-round 78s.

Fourth Flight

The only player to really assert himself Friday was Rex Brown. He shot a handicap-adjusted 58 to lasso a seven-shot lead in Fourth Flight. Brown is no stranger to success at Westwood. He’s going for his fourth Fourth Flight title since 2000. Del Piper and Wayne Stephens are his closest competitors. Both carded 65s Friday. Ande Jarlsberg turned in a 66 and Michael Smith is also in contention after at 67.

John Shinn

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jshinn@normantranscript.com