Fourth times a charm?
It was for Curtis Garver at the Four Corners Stroke Play Championship at Dalton Ranch Golf Club on Sept. 24-25 in Durango.
The Cortez native finally broke through to win the title for the first time at the tournament. Garver shot a first day, two-under par 70 and two-over par 74 on the second day to record a winning gross of 144. He edged Keenan Holts two-day championship flight score of 146, and took home $700.
Victory was sweet for the Farmers Union Insurance agent (owner of Garver Insurance Agency); especially, after losing out on defending his Pinto Bean Classic title by one-stroke in August at Conquistador Golf Course.
You know, after the Pinto Bean, I felt pretty confident. But I bogeyed two out of my last three holes, said Garver, 32, about his second day Pinto Bean Classic performance. I felt a little pressure in the Pinto Bean. I think that helped me for this tournament. When the pressure came on during the Four Corners Stroke Play, I felt more comfortable handling it over there.
Garver, a former college golf standout at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, was off to a fast start the first day, which only boosted his great confidence.
I always feel like I have a good chance of winning almost any tournament that I play in, Garver said. After the first day, I was one (stroke) ahead of Keenan Holt, whos a pretty good player.
Garver shot two-under par his first four holes on the back-nine of day two to increase his lead over Holt by four strokes. Garver played it safe after that.
I had to really screw up to lose the tournament, he said. I just played conservative and finished somewhat strong.
Garver will take the rest of 2011 off playing in golf tournaments. He saw limited action over the summer because Garver and his wife, Misty, welcomed a daughter, Mayci, to the family.
Other championship flight gross scores at the Four Corners Stroke Play Championship were Nathan Coats, 153; Ray Byrne, 156; and, Kermit Barrett, 157. Holt, Coats, Byrne and Barrett each won $400, $200, $150 and $100.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.