Hall, Rush and Zupnik Pull Away From Field

 

The three top players in each division have separated themselves from the rest of the field in the 2007 US Deaf Golf Championships in St. Louis.  Finally, after a cool week of weather, the normal July heat arrived during the second round and drained the player’s strength in 94 degree weather.

 

Kevin Hall continued to lead the way in the Open division.  His round of 69 was not as easy as it seemed.  A three putt bogey on #3 got the round off on a bad start.  But as the temperature increased, so did Hall’s birdie total.  Four straight at holes #8, 9, 10 and 11 moved him to three under par for the round.  But Kevin bunkered his approach on #13 and made double bogey.  Routine pars on the next four holes brought Hall to the #18^th hole where he went for the water guarded green in two.  Just missing in the deep rough he faced a difficult short wedge shot.  With spectators on the clubhouse balcony watching intently, Hall holed the chip for a closing eagle capping his 3 under par round.  Doren Granberry continues to hold the second place position.  Granberry got off to a hot start for the second straight day with birdies on his first two holes.  He gave those back immediately at the next hole with a double bogey.  Doren hung in there and posted a one over par 73 to lead third place David Barber by five shots.

 

The women’s division is lead by Susan Zupnik who followed a first round score of 83 with 78 today.  She leads Lauri Ponikiewski by seven shots.  The round of the day looked to belong to Lynn Williams who birdied three of her first six holes, including the difficult par three 15^th hole.  Her round fell apart at the short 16^th where she hit her second shot from the rough into the pond next to the green and made and eight to fall to one over par.

 

Colorado Senior golfer John Rush still holds the lead despite a second round 79.  Gaining on him was Neil Johnson of Minnesota who shot a 77 to be only 5 shots back.  Mike Yance turned in the round of the day for the seniors with a four over par 76.

 

The leaders tee off at 7:30 in the third round and rain and cooler temperatures are expected again to visit Far Oaks.