Four teams go 3-0 to start Twin Hills Invitational

Jim Henry, The Joplin Globe, Mo.
·2 min read

Jul. 25—Four teams won all three of their matches Saturday during the first day of the 69th annual Twin Hills Invitational.

The tournament format has divided the 48-team field into eight flights, based on handicaps. The teams play a nine-hole, best-ball round-robin schedule in their flight — the final two rounds are scheduled Sunday at 8:30 and 11 a.m — and the flight winners advance to a shootout on Sunday afternoon.

The quartet of 3-0 teams on Saturday were Jeff Carrier-Mike Landers in First Flight, Greg Cobble-Judd Eidson in Second Flight, Jarrett Boyes-Kevin Williams in Third Flight and Scott Miller-Chris Newby in fourth Flight.

However, point totals, not match records, determine the standings. Teams receive one point for each hole won and one-half point for each hole halved in each match.

Carrier-Landers lead First Flight with 17 points, and Cobble-Eidson are tied for the top spot in Second Flight with Jim Weaver-James Nichols with 15 points.

Boyes-Williams are first in Third Flight with 17 1/2 points, and Miller-Newby top Fourth Flight with 17 1/2 points.

The Championship Flight has players with the lowest handicaps, and Kyle Long and Kevin Barron combined to score 16 points, Eddie Chancellor-Kenny Neal, the two-time defending tournament champions, are fifth with 12 1/2 points.

Other flight leaders are Chris Delano-Kevin Greim in Presidents Flight with 17 points, Don Simpson-Greg Sandella in Fifth Flight with 16 1/2 points and Don Brister-Mike Talley and Mark Hendren-Kyle Thiessen in Sixth Flight with 14 1/2 points.

The First Flight and Sixth Flight have the closest battles after the first three rounds, with just one-half point separating the top three teams.

Joel Martin-Shawn Martin and Andy Franklin-Kevin Parker are tied for second in First Flight with 16 1/2 points. In today's action, Franklin-Parker face Carrier-Landers in the fourth round and Martin-Martin in the fifth round.

Carrier-Landers play Skyler Powers-Tim Powers (10 points through three rounds) in today's final round.

In Sixth Flight, Dustin Campbell-Matt McConnell are third at 14 points; in fact, only 1 1/2 points separate the top five teams, and the sixth-place team trails the co-leaders by 2 1/2 points.

Brister-Tally face their closest competitors today — Campbell-McConnell in the fourth round and Hendren-Thiessen in the fifth round. Campbell-McConnell meet Doug Whitescarver-Jeff Lindsey (13 points) in the final round.

The shootout is schedule to start at 2 p.m.

Follow Sports Editor Jim Henry on Twitter at @Jim_Henry53.