Zeeland's Klunder wins GV Amateur

Mon, Jun 30, 2008    to del.icio.us

Zeeland's Tim Klunder won his first amateur golf title Sunday when he captured the sixth annual Grand Valley Amateur Championship at The Meadows Golf Club in Allendale.

Firing an even-par final round of 72, Klunder — the City Manager of Zeeland — finished the 54-hole medal play event at three-over par 219 (72-75-72), one stroke better than Holt's Josh Burt (70-78-72--220) who was the leader after the first round.

"I can't believe I won," said Klunder who plays at Macatawa Legends in Holland. "My short game was spectacular this weekend and I also drove the ball well."

During his final round, Klunder had a near ace at the par-three seventh for a tap-in birdie and he also birdied the par-four eighth hole. Klunder's lone blunder came at the par-four 10th, where he double-bogied but he later birdied the par-five 14th hole after hitting the green in two shots.

Burt, a Grand Valley State collegiate golfer, had some heartbreak in the second round when he lost a ball on the par-four 15th hole and carding a quadruple-bogey eight. "I found the heather there and that one hole probably cost me the tournament."

Bob Sakocius of Grand Rapids claimed the 36-hole Senior Division trophy (50 years and older) by carding 75-71-146 and was, in fact, the overall tournament leader after the second round. During the final round, a triple bogey on the par-three 7th hole and several three-putts proved costly for Sakocius, resulting in a score of 78 and a 224 total, good for third place overall.