Keiley, Johnson win titles at rainy Navajo Trail Open

Heavy rain on Sunday kept the professional flight from being able to play its third and final round at Hillcrest Golf Club’s 61st annual Navajo Trail Open.

Justin Keiley of Haiku, Hawaii, however, shot two rounds in the 60s to claim the pro title and $6,000 purse in an abbreviated 36-hole tournament with a two-day score of 135.

Keiley shot a 68 on Friday and trailed Gabriel Alcala of Engelwood by one stroke. On Saturday, Keiley lowered his score to a 67 to pass Alcala, who shot a 72.

Weather delays and darkness Sunday kept the pros from playing their final round, so Keiley’s two-day score stood up for the win.

Scott Foster of Gold Canyon, Arizona, shot a 70 and a 68 to place second with a 138. Alcala finished tied for third with Eric Frazier of Albuquerque at 139.

“Rain obviously affected the whole tournament, and it’s not something we can plan on,” said Jeff Jones, associate assistant golf pro at Hillcrest. “A lot of details are planned in advance, so it’s definitely harder to make changes at the end.”

The rain, however, was a double-edged sword, softening the greens and causing delays in the tournament, but also helping the grass heal.

“It wasn’t good for the tournament, but it’s fantastic for the course,” Jones said.

The tournament’s five amateur flights, however, were able to get a full 54 holes in.

In the championship flight, Tyler Diehl took a one-stroke lead into the third round after shooting a 71 Friday and a 70 on Saturday. Last year’s amateur champ, recent Fort Lewis graduate Darren Edwards was tied for second at 142 with Steven Strasheim.

Davis Johnson began the third round tied for fifth at 145, but rallied and shot the best score Sunday, a 69, to tie Edwards, who shot a 72 Sunday, for first and force a sudden death playoff. The two golfers then went head-to-head on hole 18, and Johnson emerged with the amateur crown with a par while Edwards bogeyed the hole.

“It’s really nice to see when someone plays a final round like that to get the win,” Jones said.

The tournament drew 35 pros from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, Utah, Florida and Hawaii for the competition. Jones said a lot of the pros who competed are teaching professionals, which gives them some flexibility to travel for tournaments.

The tournament also reached its capacity of 200 golfers, but some withdrew due to the weather.

A few local golfers also competed in the professional flight. Cory Gillespie of Durango shot a 77 and 79 to tie for 28th at 156.

Blaine Ward of Durango shot rounds of 83 and 83 to place 34th at 166.

Travis Wright of Cortez shot a 78 and an 85 to place 32nd at 163.

Curtis Garver of Dolores tied for 10th at 142 with rounds of 72 and 70.

Tony Mike Jr., meanwhile, led the Farmington contingent with a two-day score of 141 to tie for eighth. Other Farmington pros who competed include Joel Atson (150), Faylyn Beyale (152) and Cody Trujillo (157).

Robert Kalinowski won the professional senior division with a two-day score of 145.

Rex Enright and Tommy Serrano tied for first in the first flight at 223.

In the second flight, Zachary Mattson shot a 235 to place first.

Michael Howe shot a 252 to win the third flight.

Ronald Luna and Radley Smiley, meanwhile, tied for first in the fourth flight at 264.

Pro flight

Name	Day 1	Day 2	Total
1. Justin Keiley	68	67	135
2. Scott Foster	70	68	138
3. Gabriel Alcala	67	72	139
3. Eric Frazier	69	70	139
5. Thomas Kalinowski	72	68	140
5. Marty Sanchez	69	71	140
5. Chandler Smith-Stetson	70	70	140

Senior pro flight

1. Robert Kalinowski	73	72	145
2. Steve Schneiter	75	71	146
3. Eric Bradley	75	73	148

Championship flight gross results

Name	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Total
1. Davis Johnson	74	71	69	214
2. Darren Edwards	71	71	72	214
3. Steven Strasheim	73	69	73	215
5. Kermitt Barrett	72	74	74	220
5. Tyler Diehl	71	70	79	220
Net champ: Henry Poston	73/71	72/70	74/72	219/213

First flight

1. Rex Enright	73	73	77	223
1. Tommy Serrano	74	77	72	223
3. Josh Hadley	82	74	71	227
4. Tyler Blohm	83	71	79	233
5. Steve Pease	80	78	76	234
Net Champ: Shane Chatfield	81/78	73/70	71/68	225/216

Second flight

1. Zachary Mattson	77	78	80	235
2. John Siegrist	77	77	82	236
3. Paul Schlafly	80	83	79	242
4. Robert Medina	84	82	82	248
5. Greg Knutson	86	82	81	249
Net Champ: Derek Krowl	77/68	77/68	85/76	239/212

Third flight

1. Michael Howe	91	78	83	252
2. Robert Pollock	89	77	90	256
3. Rory Martinez	87	98	83	268
4. Gregory Ives	89	92	88	269
4. Ray Robinson	88	91	90	269
Net Champ: Angelo Faux	90/75	83/68	85/70	258/213

Fourth flight

1. Ronald Luna	88	84	92	264
1. Radley Smiley	85	91	88	264
3. George Chavez	86	86	94	266
4. Jake Jacobs	88	95	84	267
5. John Toohey	97	86	90	273
Net champ: Charles Apodaca	89/69	84/64	91/71	264/204