Log in Subscribe

How to win against the best

Ed Townsend - Columnist
Posted 9/3/20

Liberty University's Jonathan Yaun reminded himself of how to win against the best when he saw his match-up for the opening round of 64 at the U.S. Amateur Championships August 10 at the Bandon Dunes …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

How to win against the best

Posted

Liberty University's Jonathan Yaun reminded himself of how to win against the best when he saw his match-up for the opening round of 64 at the U.S. Amateur Championships August 10 at the Bandon Dunes at Bandon, Oregon.

The 120th U.S. Amateur was indeed a great honor for Yaun who has played well in recent tournaments.

Yaun is the son of Radford (Rad) and Meredith Yaun who are part of the Liberty (Sullivan County) based Yaun family and now make their home in Mineola, Florida. Rad while living in Liberty is well remembered for winning the New York State Amateur Championship in 1976 at the Grossinger Golf Course.

Jonathan, a rising Junior at Liberty University, who just a few months ago was barely ranked inside the top 500 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, had to begin his match-play run against Georgia's David Thompson, a first-team All American, No. 4 in the World Amateur Ranking and the highest-ranked amateur in the field at Bandon Dunes.

The initial thought was that he got a tough draw.

When you put your mind to the task that you can beat your opponent that mentality quickly changed the match as Yaun defeated Thompson.

Yaun, who got into this tournament the week before showed what he was made of as he birdied four of his final five holes in a 3-1 victory over Thompson.

It was one of several big-time upsets in the opening round of match play.

Yaun's play this summer got him to the U.S. Amateur tournament and included a semifinal run in the North and South Amateur, where he shot 28 on the front nine at Pinehurst No. 2 before beating Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson in the quarterfinals, 9-8.

Yaun's shot-making in his opening Amateur round was equally as good.

After six straight pars to open the match and just two birdies through 12 holes, Yaun caught fire.

At the par three 15th Yaun hit a 5 iron to 3 feet of the hole and at the next hole Yaun hit a 3-wood onto the green at the short par 4 and made a 15-foot putt for a birdie.

Yaun won the next hole after Thompson missed a 15 footer for birdie and the match was over.

Yaun noted the great experience he had playing with and defeating one of the best players in the country.

Every tournament has its up's and down's as Jonathan quickly learned as he lost on the 18th to lose 1 down in his next match.

The loss sends him back to Liberty University and his Junior year of college and practice where the fall golf season is up in the air due to COVID.

Ed's Outlook

Call The Pro

If you're out on the golf course playing by yourself what's the best thing to do if you score a hole-in-one?

Liberty Central high school varsity football and baseball coach Joe Franke, who works summer months as the bartender at the Swan Lake Golf and Country Club, had the solution while playing the par three 164-yard sixth hole August 20.

“I saw the ball hit the green and then roll into the hole so I immediately got on the cellphone and called Swan Lake golf pro Bob Menges who arrived at the scene several minutes later,” Franke said.

Franke noted that he pointed out the divot the ball had made on the green and verified to Menges he saw the ball roll into the hole but never approached the hole.

Menges declared it was a legal hole-in-one, the first one ever scored by Franke who noted that he occasionally plays a round of golf before starting his bartender job in the clubhouse.

Franke, 26, said he has been playing golf for only four years but this summer he took the game more seriously and that he also plays with his brother, Rick, a DEC Forest Ranger, in the Tuesday Men's league at Swan Lake.

Franke, also a Liberty Central Elementary School teacher, used an eight iron to score the ace.

Golf Tip

By Bob Menges

Distance and direction lead to inconsistent putting and these are the reasons we should always have at the top of our “How Can I Be More Consistent?” list.

Distance is the biggest cause of inconsistency, because it equates to the “feel” of the putt and also ends up controlling the distance after impact.

As we have all learned, more speed equals less break and less speed leads to more break.

On the other side of the coin, direction is the control we have in getting the golf ball started in the right direction before gravity and undulation take over the roll and path of the ball. Mixed in with all this is the factor that these two distinctions have to work together if we are to enjoy any success in putting.

Another way of looking at this is to think of our hands as the rudder and the engine/propeller of a boat.

The rudder of the boat controls the direction, while the engine/propeller generates the speed and distance.

When putting, our lead hand is the rudder.....it's along for the ride, but it also makes sure you are staying square to the target. The trail hand, which is usually our dominant hand, is the engine/propeller and determines how far the ball goes.

So, each “part” has it own function.....and a very important function....but one working without the other is either a boat going in circles (no rudder) or simply going nowhere (no engine).

An important key to developing more reliability with our distance and direction is to minimize hand and wrist movement, which, in turn, will maximize feel and control.

Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available when the course opens in mid-May. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-292-0323, 845-866-5567 or via email at bobmenges22@gmail.com

Putting Tip

By Geoff Walsh

Constant speed is a major asset to every terrific putter and can never be overrated.

You feel the speed with your Eyes, Mind and Hands..... “The Triangle.”

Your eyes see the distance between the ball and the hole, a signal is sent to your mind, then your mind sends a signal to the muscles in your right hand (or left hand if you are a lefty) as the pressure and amount of acceleration on the forward stroke for the distance you want the ball to travel.

This definitely connects to the amount of back and thru distance.

Geoff Walsh is a Class A PGA Professional at the Tarry Brae Golf Course at 387 Pleasant Valley Road, South Fallsburg. At this time private lessons are not available. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached by telephone at 845-434-2620.

Ed Townsend is a Public Relations Consultant to the sport of golf and brings over 60-years of sports journalism experience in writing and compiling the information for this column. When leagues and courses are fully in operation send your league or tournament information to Ed at 845-439-8177, email to bghtnews@aol.com or fax to 845-205-4474. View this column and Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.

Golf Scores

Twin Village

Monday Mens

1. Green & Glantzis 163.5

2. Husson & Husson 163.0

3. Madera & Madera 147.0

4. Tallman & Ackerly 145.0

4. Brock & Brock 145.0

6. Templin & Lee 144.0

7. Trask/Mooney/Huggins 141.0

8. Thomas & Hendrickson 140.0

9. Jester & Winters 139.5

10. Harris & Spalding 138.0

11. Haas & France 134.5

12. Rowan & Bennett 133.0

13. Rampe & Hill 132.5

14. Wilcox & Gray 128.5

15. Darbee & France 126.0

16. Ryder & Ryder 125.0

17. Tucker & Smith 119.5

18. Murphy/Murphy/Reed 118.0

Thursday Travel League

1. Thomas & Husson 175.0

2. Bacigalupo & Mitchell 168.5

3. Gilmore & Bernstein 163.0

4. Collura & Fisher 162.5

5. Martinez & Sherman 159.5

6. Winters & Winters 154.5

7. Schmidt & Ackerly 149.5

8. Stevens & Snihura 140.5

9. Lubniewski & Martin 130.0

10. Jardine & Stanley 126.5

11. Coney & Mace 126.0

12. Cawley & Todora 124.0

13. Hutchins & Mack 122.0

14. Benzenberg & Benzenberg 114.5

15. Poli & Cunningham 94.5

16. Heavey & Magill 83.5

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here