Brian Carney watches a putt head toward the hole at Cascades Golf Course during the City Golf Championship on Saturday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
Brian Carney said he has played in tournaments in Jackson for more than 15 years.
But his scores in the 80s were never good enough to break through to the top tier in the tough Jackson golf community.
That has changed thanks to the help of a local golf coach – not his in high school.
Carney shot a 72 to earn medalist honors at the City Golf Championship at Cascades Golf Course on Saturday. The former Lumen Christi Catholic High School golfer won his first match on Sunday.
Thirty-two golfers teed it up Sunday for the match play format. JTV will update scores on a daily basis heading to the 36-hole final this Saturday.
Carney said he has been working with current LCCS Coach David Swartout on his swing for a couple of years. Swartout – the longtime high school coach – was not Carney’s coach in high school.
“This is the second year I have been working with him,” Carney said. “When I have problems, we meet at the driving range and work things out.”
Carney said he it a lot of greens and fairways in his even-par qualifying round. He would have shot under par, but a double bogey on 17 changed that.
“At that point I wasn’t too upset because I was comfortably in the field,” Carney said.
Last year’s champion Logan Anuszkiewicz led a continent of golfers qualifying for the tournament with 73s. Joining him was Cody Lysher and Bret Valkuchak.
Anuszkiewicz is the No. 1 seed in the tournament as the defending champion.
Shooting 74s were Eric Pietroytys, Steve Maddalena, and Dave Crandall. Conor Spencer, John Tarpley, Cannon Risner, Greg Zeller and Riley Hestwood shot 75s.
Luke Girodat, Todd Marston, Sean Vann, Mike Raymond, Tom Butterfield, and Mark Kurzynowski shots 76s. Chad Risner, Brian Smith. Justin Dods, Mike Boldt, and Brogan Brockie finished with 77s. Mike Brockie shot a 78 and Tom Raymond and Dylan Eddy finished with 79s to make the field. Malon Backinger and Chris Chaney shot 80s and Tim Pickering and Brett Casto shot 81s.
Colin Norton and Justin Bunch carded 82s to make the field.
Second round matches are expected to be played Monday or Tuesday at Cascades.
First round matches City Golf Championship on Sunday
(Match play at Cascades Golf Course)
Anuszkiewicz defeated Bunch, 5-4
M. Raymond defeated Butterfield, 2 up
Spencer defeated Eddy, 6-4
M. Brockie defeated Tarpley, 3-2
Valkuchak defeated Pickering, 1 up (23 holes)
Girodat defeated Smith, 6-5
Chaney defeated Pietroytys, 2-1
Hestwood defeated Dods, 6-4
Carney defeated Norton, 6-5
Kurzynowski defeated Vann, 2-1
Raymond defeated Crandall, 2-1
B. Brockie defeated Ca. Risner, 1 up
Lysher defeated Casto, 6-5
Marston defeated Ch. Risner, 1 up
Maddalena defeated Backinger, 6-5
Zeller defeated Boldt, 2-1
Next round (Monday or Tuesday)
Anuszkiewicz vs. M. Raymond
Spencer vs. M. Brockie
Valkuchak vs. Girodat
Chaney vs. Hestwood
Carney vs. Kurzynowski
T. Raymond vs. B. Brockie
Lysher vs. Marston
Maddalena vs. Zeller