Former PGA golfer Wil Collins had the best round of the Navajo Trail Open on Friday and he never looked back. Collins had a lights-out weekend to win the tournament’s professional flight by six strokes with a 15-under, 198 gross score.
“For the pros, it was a battle for second,” said Carter Cliatt of Hillcrest. “We had one guy (Collins) who blew everyone away.”
Collins sunk six birdies, an eagle and just one bogey to card a 64 from the black tee boxes in his first round. On Saturday, he played a bogey-free round of 66 while sinking two eagles and one bogey to extend his lead over Blake Wheeler.
Wheeler had eight birdies, one eagle and five bogeys on his first two rounds to card a 68 and a 69 in the first two rounds.
During Round 3 on Sunday, Wheeler had a slightly better round than Collins with five birdies and one bogey, but he wasn’t able to make much of a dent in his lead. Collins sunk six more birdies and three bogeys on the final day to win the tournament’s pro flight by six strokes.
Wheeler finished second with a nine-under 204.
Griffin Barela and Andrew Ni tied for third at two-under 211. Barela was consistent throughout the weekend, posting rounds of 70, 71 and 70. Ni had the second best round of the tournament with a 65 on Saturday, with six birdies and an eagle, but shot a 74 in the final round.
Former Fort Lewis Skyhawk Darren Edward finished fifth at 1-under 212. Edwards shot rounds of 71, 68 and 73, which included seven birdies in his second round.
Alexander Estrada was the only other pro to finish even for better. Estrada shot a 74, 70 and 69 to finish even-par at 213.
Devin Schreiner of Durango finished 10th with a 217. Schreiner shot a 72 on Friday, then came back and had his best round on Saturday with three birdies and an eagle to post a 69. Schreiner, however, had a pair of double bogeys on Sunday to post a 76, finish 4-over and tie Victor Hanks.
Faylyn Beyale of Farmington finished tied for 12th with former Skyhawk Blake Kuzava and Drew Trujillo at 218. Kuzava started strong with two birdies and an eagle to card a 68 on Friday, but scored 75 the next two days.
Tony Mike of Farmington tied for 20th at 10-over 223.
Hillcrest staff members Blaine Ward and Robby Grogan finished 22nd and 26th, respectively, at 226 and 240.
Six flights of golfers played three rounds at the Hillcrest Golf Club during the 62nd annual Navajo Trail Open over the weekend. Lightning caused a few delays, but the last flight was able to finish just before it got dark on Sunday.
“We barely got it in,” Cliatt said. “It was almost dark.”
In the championship flight, which also used the black tee boxes, Henry Poston had 14 birdies over the weekend and shot rounds of 68, 69 and 73 to take first with a 210 net score. Taylor Ross (214) finished second while Trejan Andrew finished one shot ahead of Jordan Jennings to take third with a 219.
The first flight played from the blue tee boxes and Ricco Tapia shot a 203 to take the title. Kevin Price was two shots behind Tapia after the first round and cut the lead in half on Saturday, but Tapia shot a 67 on Sunday to pull back away. Stephen Pease finished even at 213 to place third.
David Schanzenbaker shot a five-under 208 to win the second flight, followed by Brandon Drake (211) and Doug Piling (212).
Ashton Hemphill won the third flight with a two-under 211. Lawrence Chavez (218) and Sawyer Soden (223) finished second and third.
In the fourth flight, from the gold tee boxes, Everett Brown finished first with a 208, followed by Ron Luna (211) and Priscilla Luna (212).
