Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Playoff decides Links Championship at Tech

Salome beaten on extra hole

Joe Warren El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

The Sun Country Amateur Public Links Championship was held at New Mexico Tech Golf Course on Saturday and Sunday, and Socorroan Anton Salome was in the hunt.

On Saturday, Salome shot an opening round 70 to lead by five shots over fellow local golfer Bob Basham.

However, Salome came back down to earth Sunday in the second and final round, and Patrick Dolan, of El Paso, snuck in to tie him and force a playoff.

Dolan, who shot a 71 on the second day, won the playoff on the first hole after making par and watching Salome's par-putt rim out of the cup.

Salome led Dolan by six shots after the first day, but gave him back those shots on the second.

"I didn't miss too many shots and I had it on cruise control," Salome said of his play Saturday. "Then the second day I was leaving myself 4-footers all day long and couldn't make them."

Salome had four three-putts Sunday as part of his final round.

"I didn't deserve to win the tournament the way I played that second round," Salome said. "Golf has a way of giving you what you deserve."

Even so, Salome still had a chance to win in the sudden-death playoff after Dolan missed the green with his third shot. Salome was on the green in three, but again he three-putt to open the door for Dolan and he took advantage.

The scores were high for the tournament, as the 147 shot by both Dolan and Salome were three shots over par.

Salome said it was not the golf course causing the high scores.

"The course is in excellent shape," he said. "The greens were really fast and smooth. The course has never been in that good of shape."

Salome and Dolan were the only two golfers to shoot rounds below par. Salome's 70 to open was the low round of the tournament, and Dolan's 71 was the only score lower than 75 on the par-72 course.

Basham finished third in the tournament with a total of 151 and was the only other local entered.

jwarren@dchieftain.com

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