Locals struggle in opening round of 15-18 Future Masters

Dothan’s Ryan Benton and David Gannon joined New Brockton’s Steven Smith in finding trouble early and late, but in between played some mighty fine golf in leading the local players in the 60th Annual Press Thornton Future Masters at the Dothan County Club on Thursday.

Benton shot a 1-over par 71, Smith came in at 72 and Gannon came in at 73 to lead 16 Wiregrass players in the first round of the 15-18 age division.

The three local leaders each had trouble on No. 2 — with Gannon and Benton making double-bogey and Smith a bogey, and the trio walked off No. 18 a bit disgusted.

Benton, after three straight birdies (Nos. 14-15-16) got him to 1-under, made bogey on his final two holes.

“I hit a 30-footer on 14,” Benton said of the birdie run. “That got the momentum going.”

But missing a short putt on 17 had the 15-year-old Providence Christian standout shaking his head.

“I had two great shots,” Benton said of the par 4. “I was short on 17, but I knew that was OK to be short.

“My chip was good. I had it (putt) lined up perfectly, but pushed it at the last moment because I didn’t trust it.”

Gannon, who led Houston Academy in the spring, made a double-bogey on No. 18 after hitting his second shot into the trap, then taking two shots to get out. He did make a nice putt for the double-bogey.

“Up and down,” Gannon said of his round. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve had that much difference in the front and back.”

Gannon found the going tough early, finishing the front nine at 4-over 39 before playing exceptionally well the final nine until trouble on No. 18.

“I was really hoping to keep it even on the back,” Gannon said. “I got a putt to go on 13, then made birdies and 15 and 16.

“I can’t really complain about the back except for the double-bogey.”

Benton’s double-bogey on the second hole, a par 4, was memorable.

“It was not that bad of a drive, but I pulled it left,” Benton began. “It hit the cart path and flew into the water. I dropped and hit onto the green and three-putted.”

Benton kept his composure.

“I was like it’s just my second hole and don’t worry about it,” Benton said. “Sometimes a hole like that early takes the pressure off.

“I knew I had a lot more golf to go to redeem myself. I try to stay really calm and keep it fun. I wanted to just shoot around even par. I wasn’t putting any pressure on myself to do good.”

Smith, unlike Gannon and Benton, teed off in the afternoon and was among the final groups finishing.

He bogeyed Nos. 2 and 8 on the front, along with finishing with a bogey on 18. His birdie in what was a steady round came on No. 9.

Ozark’s Cole Claassen had a frustrating round of 77.

“I drove the ball great,” Claassen said. “I only missed one fairway.”

But once off the tee, the troubles began.

“Everything else was absolutely terrible,” Claassen said. “I’ll have to be more aggressive tomorrow (Friday) to try and make up a few shots.”

Dothan’s Mason Crutchfield also came in at 77.

“I started playing good on the back, but then bogeyed the last three holes,” Crutchfield said.

Despite the final three holes, Crutchfield had reason to be pleased.

“It’s my best round at the Future Masters so far,” Crutchfield said.

The scores of other area golfers were: Lee Merritt of Slocomb, Grant Gilbert of Troy and Jackson Byars of Troy at 78; Tolver Dozier of Dothan and Ben McKeller of Troy at 79; Josh Atkinson of Andalusia, David Paine of Dothan and Alex Short of Andalusia at 80; Audie Stell of Troy at 82; Erik Hussey of Ozark at 86 and Hap Howell of Dothan at 93.