VERONA -- The sun broke through at Atunyote just as the afternoon foursomes teed off as part of the Turning Stone Resort Championship Pro-Am event. Davis Love III saw the sun and reacted saying simply, “It feels good.” Love is playing in a foursome with leaders of the Oneida Nation and Turning Stone resort including Ray Halbritter and Frank Riolo.
Halbritter had the pleasure of beating the pro on the challenging 550 yard par 5. Both Halbritter and Love striped their drives down the middle of the fairway. Halbritter nearly reached the green in two, he pitched on and just missed a birdie putt settling for par. Davis Love sent his second shot into the greenside rough. A difficult pitch on left him with a 40 foot curling putt for birdie. He ended up three putting for a bogey six.
Love’s professional easy going manner typified the tone of the afternoon rounds as amateurs with a mix of abilities walked the fairways with some of the best golfers in the world. Some of the recognizable names on the amateur side included Jim Boeheim, Bill Fitzpatrick, Doug Logan, Gomez and Dave and actor Steven Baldwin. Baldwin was representing his mother’s breast cancer foundation. He told our John Evenson he loves the course and has now played it five or six times over the last few years.
The sunshine has lifted spirits at the course where people have huddled to stay warm and dry for much of the week to this point. Steve Flesch looks to begin the defense of his title tomorrow morning when the players begin teeing off at 7:00 a.m.
You can watch our preview special “A Shot at Eagle” tonight at 7:00 p.m. on NBC-3.
