Fleming edges Woodward for record-tying 18th section major
Photo: Tim Fleming flanked by sponsors of the South Central Section PGA Professional Championship.
By Ken MacLeod
NORMAN – A curling 35-foot birdie putt that dropped from the back of the 16th green helped lift Tim Fleming to a one-shot victory over Tyler Woodward in the South Central Section PGA Professional Championship Tuesday at the renovated Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club.
Fleming, director of golf at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, shot a 1-under 71 in the final round of the previously 54-hole event shortened to 36 holes this year to encourage greater participation. Woodward, the host professional at Jimmie Austin, pulled within one with a birdie of his own on the 17th hole, but missed an uphill birdie putt of about 25 feet on the par-5 18th to force a tie.
It was the third victory in this event for Fleming, who also won in 2003 and 2012. It was also the 18th section major championship for the 53-year-old, who is now tied with Bob Ralston and Jim Woodward for most section victories all time.
The top five qualify for the PGA Professional Championship April 28 to May 1 at Belfair of Bluffton Golf Club in South Carolina. The top 20 finishers there will compete in the PGA Championship May 16-19. Fleming has qualified to compete in five PGA Championships previously and has made it to the PGA Professional Championship at least 18 times, he estimated.
Woodward made four birdies on the front nine and made the turn at 2-under and one shot ahead of Fleming. However he made bogey on the par-3 12th while Fleming rolled in a birdie putt for a two-shot swing. Both players made double bogey on the par-5 13th, but Fleming made two spectacular par saves on holes 14 and 17 to keep Woodward at bay. Woodward, the head pro at Jimmie Austin for the past six years, will be making his first appearance in the national event.
“Tim made some great putts and you have to give him credit,” Woodward said. “That putt on 16 was amazing and he made a great up-and-down on 17. I knew I had to birdie 18 to tie and gave it a chance.”
Fleming, a former Oklahoma State All-American, said he was impressed by all the changes and the conditions at Jimmie Austin, which reopened fully last year after a several-year renovation by architect Tripp Davis.
“The course, the practice facilities, the clubhouse, everything they’ve done here is really special,” Fleming said.
Also qualifying for the national event were Mark Fuller of Surrey Hills Country Club, who shot rounds of 72-73 and finished two shots behind Fleming, Cary Cozby of Southern Hills Country Club, who shot 75-71 to finish at 2 over and tied with Jarod Lundy of Winter Creek Golf Club in Blanchard, who shot 72-74. Alternates are Trent Rommann of Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Jeff Combe of Tulsa Country Club, Malachi Murphy of Winter Creek and Brian Soerensen of Kickingbird Golf Course in Edmond.
Fleming, who was three over after his first two holes in Monday’s opening round, said the patience learned during his career helped him grind back into contention and eventually prevail.
“At 53, you do learn some patience,” he said. “Although with it only being 36 holes and that start, I couldn’t wait too long to get going.”
He made three birdies and no bogeys over the rest of the opening round to tie for the lead at even-par 72, then was one of only three golfers to break par with his closing 71, the other two being Cozby and Rommann.
Tim FlemingSouth Central PGA Professional Championship Results
Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club
Par: 72 Distance: 6980
Qualifiers: 5 Alternates: 4
QUALIFIERS
1 Tim Fleming Oklahoma City G&CC 72-71–143 -1
2 Tyler Woodward Jimmie Austin Golf Club 72-72–144 E
3 Mark Fuller Surrey Hills 72-73–145 +1
T4 Cary Cozby Southern Hills CC – Champ 75-71–146 +2
T4 Jarod Lundy Winter Creek GC 74-72–146 +2
ALTERNATES – IN ORDER
6 Trent Rommann Crestview CC 76-71–147 +3
T7 Jeff Combe Tulsa CC 74-74–148 +4
T7 Malachi Murphy Winter Creek GC 74-74–148 +4
T9 Brian Soerensen Kickingbird GC 75-74–149 +5
DID NOT QUALIFY
T9 Art Romero Texarkana CC 75-74–149 +5
T9 Mark Ramer Golf World Driving Range 74-75–149 +5
T9 Troy Hendricks Auburn Hills Municipal 73-76–149 +5
T13 Brent Wilcoxen South Lakes 76-74–150 +6
T13 Kyle Emerson Oklahoma City G&CC 78-72–150 +6
T13 Jim Young River Oaks GC 78-72–150 +6
T13 J.J. Belcoff Forest Ridge 76-74–150 +6
T13 Jon Burton Hardscrabble CC 73-77–150 +6
T18 Shannon Friday Lake Hefner GC – North 76-75–151 +7
T18 Mark Budler Indian Springs – River 75-76–151 +7
T20 Greg Bray Golf Club of Oklahoma 75-77–152 +8
T20 Kyley Tetley Indian Springs – River 75-77–152 +8
T20 Mike Hansen Duncan G&T Club 72-80–152 +8
T23 Brian Ward Crestview CC 78-75–153 +9
T23 Kyle Flinton Quail Creek G & CC 79-74–153 +9
T25 Darren Watts Lake Hefner GC 76-78–154 +10
T25 Justin Watkins Topgolf – Oklahoma City 76-78–154 +10
T25 Bruce Baxley Searcy CC 82-72–154 +10
T25 Jeff Klappenbach Kickingbird GC 75-79–154 +10
T25 Blake Bowman Yamaha Golf Cars 74-80–154 +10
30 Edward Roethlisberger Patricia Island E&GC 76-79–155 +11
31 Derrick Vest Patriot GC 78-78–156 +12
T32 Derek Franco Twin Hills Golf & CC 77-81–158 +14
T32 Derrick Taylor Kickingbird GC 76-82–158 +14
T32 Joey Martinez Belmar GC 80-78–158 +14
T32 Lee Johnson Hidden Lakes 80-78–158 +14
T32 Ryan Rody Gaillardia CC 75-83–158 +14
T37 Philip Holley Hot Springs CC 78-81–159 +15
T37 Jason Mink LaFortune Park GC 82-77–159 +15
T39 Garrett Diel Belmar GC 79-81–160 +16
T39 JJ Johnson Jimmie Austin Golf Club 82-78–160 +16
T41 Bob Ralston Stuttgart CC 76-85–161 +17
T41 Tony Bowler Stroud Municipal Golf Course 79-82–161 +17
T41 Dennis Bowman Pryor Creek 75-86–161 +17
T44 Derek Claborn Dornick Hills G&CC 78-84–162 +18
T44 Vince Bizik 81-81–162 +18
T44 Terry Wiles Kickingbird GC 85-77–162 +18
47 Barry Howard Hot Springs CC 81-82–163 +19
T48 Jeff Tucker Surrey Hills 81-83–164 +20
T48 Steve Blaske Tex Consolver GC 83-81–164 +20
T48 Colin O’Bryan MacDonald Park GC 82-82–164 +20
T51 Rusty Wortham Altus AFB GC / Windy Trai 78-87–165 +21
T51 Corey Burd Bailey Ranch Golf Club 86-79–165 +21
53 Brad Fulton Oklahoma City G&CC 89-77–166 +22
54 Brent Cryer GC of Edmond 89-78–167 +23
55 Trey Stelling Quail Creek G & CC 89-82–171 +27
T56 Kurstyn Mills Oklahoma City G&CC 87-85–172 +28
T56 Philip Jackson Golf Club of Oklahoma 90-82–172 +28
58 Devin Davenport Oak Tree National 88-86–174 +30
T59 Tory Hayes South Central Section 89-87–176 +32
T59 Cole Wasinger The Golf Club at Southwin 90-86–176 +32
T59 Cody Lack Clapp Memorial 91-85–176 +32
62 Wade Walker Hidden Trails CC 89-92–181 +37
T63 William Agler Fayetteville CC 91-94–185 +41
T63 Brett Dotson Cleveland/Srixon Golf 92-93–185 +41
DID NOT FINISH
WD Justin Sellin Blessings GC +5
WD Rodney Young Jimmie Austin Golf Club +11
WD Kevin Moberg The Golf Studio +12
WD Dustin Semsch GC of Edmond +14
WD Aaron Speaker Hillcrest +25
WD Cameron Alford Alotian Club
WD Brian Davis South Central Section
WD Mike Stewart Hidden Trails CC
WD Mark Trudeau Oak Tree National
DQ Jason Hase Buffalo Dunes GC +2
DQ Riley Seitz Reflection Ridge GC +6
DQ Steve Ramsey Indian Springs – River
NC Jim Woodward