Fisher takes control

By Dave Morrison
Sports Editor

August 05, 2008 10:42 pm

— WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Tim Fisher is not, by nature, a superstitious person.
But with a possible second West Virginia State Amateur title in the balance ...
“My caddie, Matt Sisson, is from Sissonville,” Fisher said. “When I won (the state am) in ’05, my caddie (Mark Thaxton) was from Sissonville. And I was talking to someone and they told me that the last time the format here was switched (this year’s tournament started on the Greenbrier course and will end on Old White Thursday) Harold Payne won it. And I played with Harold Payne on the first day of the tournament (Monday).”
Fisher fired the only under-par round Tuesday with a 69 to take a one shot lead over defending champion Anthony Reale as the Amateur switches to the Greenbrier course today.
“I don’t believe (in superstitions), but (Sisson) brought it up,” Fisher said. “Maybe ... you never know.”
Sisson had played in the tournament early, but didn’t make the cut.
“He didn’t have a good tournament,” Fisher said. “But he did a really good job for me. He did a great job read putts.”
Lingering one stroke back (139) is Reale, who along with Justin Caroli, made up Tuesday’s final group.
Reale shot even-par 70.
Behind Reale is Marshall golfer Christian Brand (70-71—141) and Caroli.
“I felt great off the tee,” said Caroli, who scrambled with several great saves on the day. “My long game was great. But when I had wedges or short irons in my hand, it wasn’t my game. But I have to be happy with a 72. It could have been worse. I made several crucial shots. The main thing is I’m still there.”
The Old White, typically the site of the tournament’s first and third round, didn’t allow anyone to go low, which is also typical.
“This golf course is constantly in your face,” said Brand, playing in his fifth state amateur. “I didn’t have my best game. But I got it in the hole and found a way to shoot a good score.”
The state’s most consistent amateur, Pat Carter, finished with a 71 on the Old White, and is fifth, tied with Chapmanville’s Mike Veres at 142.
For the second day in a row, Carter struggled early, sitting at three-over through the first 12 holes.
But he brought it down with birdies on 15 and 16.
“Fifteen and 16 must be my lucky numbers this year because I birdied those two holes (Monday on the Greenbrier course),” Carter said. “I had a real good putting round.”
The only short putt he missed was on No. 12, when he putted the ball to within 18 inches, but there was a spike mark right in front of his line to the hole. The putt hit the spike mark and didn’t drop.
“There was nothing I could do about it,” Carter said.
The scene shifts back to the Greenbrier course today and that has Fisher brimming with confidence.
“After shooting a 69 on (Old White) I have to be happy,” Fisher said. “Considering that my best on this course had been a 75. Any time I can have the lead going back (to the Greenbrier have to be excited. I like my chances.”
Locally, Lindside’s Michael Hines (146), Lester’s Mike Mays (148), White Sulphur’s Lannie Clinebell (148), Alderson’s Josh Boswell (149), Canvas’ Josh Arbaugh (149), Princeton’s Scott Miller (149), Crab Orchard’s Kelly Shumate (151), Lewisburg’s Justin Windon (152) and Alderson’s Nathan Flint (152) all made the cut, which came at 152.
— E-mail:
demorrison@register-herald.com

W.Va. Amateur scores
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS (AP) — Scores after the second round of the West Virginia Amateur golf tournament Tuesday at The Greenbrier resort. The first round was played on the 6,675-yard, par-72 Greenbrier course. The second round was played on the 6,790-yard, par-70 Old White course:
Tim Fisher, Statts Mills 69-69 — 138
Anthony Reale, Glenville 69-70 — 139
Christian Brand, Charleston 70-71 — 141
Justin Caroli, Bridgeport 69-72 — 141
Michael Veres, Chapmanville 72-70 — 142
Pat Carter, Huntington 71-71 — 142
Carson Schambach, Wheeling 72-71 — 143
Matthew Gissy, Weston 73-71 — 144
Trent Roush, Mason 75-70 — 145
Bosten Miller, Charleston 72-73 — 145
Sam O’Dell, Hurricane 72-73 — 145
Kenneth Hess, Parkersburg 70-75 — 145
Matt Hicks, Sissonville 70-75 — 145
Clark Priddy, Nitro 76-70 — 146
Trevor Hedges, Martinsburg 75-71 — 146
Michael Hines, Lindside 72-74 — 146
Will Johnson, Charleston 72-74 — 146
Jamie Whitt, Huntington 76-71 — 147
Stephen Fox, Huntington 73-74 — 147
Michael Mays, Lester 74-74 — 148
Lannie Clinebell Jr., Wh.Sul.Springs 74-74 — 148
Josh Boswell, Alderson 78-71 — 149
Ben Palmer, Parkersburg 78-71 — 149
Joshua Arbaugh, Canvas 76-73 — 149
David Fields, Fort Gay 75-74 — 149
Jeff Bryant, South Charleston 72-77 — 149
Scott Miller, Princeton 72-77 — 149
Stacey Shy, Huntington 78-72 — 150
Zachary Yochum, Wheeling 76-74 — 150
Patton Couch, Logan 76-74 — 150
Aaron Boggs, Madison 74-76 — 150
Bryan Snow, Ranson 72-78 — 150
Jim Grimmett, Davin 78-73 — 151
Kelly Shumate, Crab Orchard 77-74 — 151
Phil DiLorenzo, Weirton 76-75 — 151
Jeremy Tucker, Mason 74-77 — 151
Scott Bodden, Huntington 71-80 — 151
Sam Booth, Hurricane 80-72 — 152
Justin Windon, Lewisburg 78-74 — 152
Nathan Flint, Alderson 79-73 — 152
Nathan Kinker, Barboursville 77-75 — 152
Jeffrey Estep, Bridgeport 76-76 — 152
Craig McGlothlin, Huntington 74-78 — 152
Tad Tomblin, Man 72-80152
Missed Cut
John Duty Sr., Hurricane 79-74 — 153
Brandon Tinney, Richwood 77-76 — 153
Bryan Myers, Wheeling 76-77 — 153
Jeremy Rogers, Buckhannon 82-72 — 154
Scott Prince, Daniels 80-74 — 154
Jeff Whitman, Hurricane 76-78 — 154
Aaron Barna, Hurricane 76-78 — 154
Aaron Hunting, Barboursville 76-78 — 154
Matt Pellillo, Fairmont 76-78 — 154
Ryan Mason, Bridgeport 75-79 — 154
Zach Rudy, Fairmont 82-73 — 155
Jay Woodward, Bridgeport 79-76 — 155
Harold Payne, Hurricane 78-77 — 155
Ryan Stewart, Barboursville 80-76 — 156
Chuck Workman, Marlinton 78-78 — 156
Levi Stevens, Rockview 77-79 — 156
Michael Koreski, Parkersburg 74-82 — 156
Ian Patrick, Huntington 82-75 — 157
Travis Woodford, Glenville 78-79 — 157
Mitch Roush, Mason 84-74 — 158
Harry Howell, Madison 81-77 — 158
Paul Kurtz, Wheeling 79-79 — 158
Mike Marrara, Morgantown 82-77 — 159
Keith Palmer, Parkersburg 81-78 — 159
Izaak Mendelson, Morgantown 81-78 — 159
Van James III, Lewisburg 79-80 — 159
Chris Palmer, Wheeling 77-82 — 159
Chris Tipper, Vienna 81-79 — 160
Dennis Vass, Beckley 81-79 — 160
Doug Kirkpatrick, Grafton 78-82 — 160
Richard Moore, Spencer 76-84 — 160
Jason Holstein, Hurricane 81-80 — 161
Mike Keiffer, Elkview 78-83 — 161
Aaron Kemlock, Oak Hill 84-78 — 162
Al Estepp, St. Albans 81-81 — 162
Swanson Smith, Charleston 80-82 — 162
Josh Bower, Scott Depot 78-84 — 162
Alan Beddow, Morgantown 80-83 — 163
Phillip Shrewbury II, Peterstown 81-83 — 164
Phil Zambos, Huntington 81-83 — 164
Ira Lee, Beckley 79-85 — 164
Dylan Alasky, Fairmont 84-81 — 165
Bruce Wetherholt, Barboursville 82-83 — 165
Craig Fenton, Williamstown 79-86 — 165
Joseph Rogers, Buffalo 77-88 — 165
Bryan Lewis, Martinsburg 83-83 — 166
Reuben Prillaman, Oceana 87-80 — 167
Michael Gervais, Bridgeport 84-84 — 168
Chris Carter, Tornado 82-86 — 168
Brian Meador, Morgantown 91-78 — 169
Jared Harper, Barboursville 81-88 — 169
Matt Sisson, Sissonville 84-86 — 170
Ara Hopkins, Smithers 85-86 — 171
Stewart Myers, Beckley 87-87 — 174
P.J. Gibbs, New Haven 96-94 — 190
Anthony Zappin, Huntington 75-DQ — DQ
Will Lively, Charleston 88-WD — WD

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