RTO Notebook: A war of words between Davis, spectators

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

RENO " Brian Davis had a minor verbal altercation with a few unruly fans on the 16th hole of the 10th annual Legends Reno-Tahoe Open Saturday at Montreux Golf & Country Club.

Davis hit his tee shot into the water on the par-3 hole, and as he walked toward the green, he heard fans yelling at him.

"I'm walking down there and asked the rules official if it had crossed the hazard line," Davis said after his round. "These three guys shouted different things to me. I said 'No, no guys, I'm asking the rules official'. The rules official came over and said it didn't cross, so I dropped it in the drop zone.

"I hit it, and just as I had impact, some guy shouted 'Get in the water'. It's about all I thought about obviously and I wasn't hitting it too good anyway. Obviously my response wasn't the best way to put it, but I apologized to everyone. They said we would have said a lot worse. It was one of those things."

According to bystanders, the British-born Davis used a four-word expletive toward the small group that yelled at him.

"I've had things like that happen before," Davis said. "We are the only sport where you don't get heckled. Every other sport gets heckled when they are shooting. I'm glad my family wasn't there because those three guys wouldn't have made it out of there."

NIAA GETS INVOLVED

Led by Centennial High School's Alexandra Borcherts, roughly 15 of the state's top male and female golfers from Nevada have been offered an opportunity to be inside the ropes today at the tournament.

The group of athletes will serve as standard-bearers and walking scorers. Borcherts will be with the final group of the day.

The idea came as a result of a conversation between John Sandie III, the chairman of the Reno-Tahoe Open Foundation, and Eddie Bonine, the executive director of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association.

"We're excited to have these young athletes out here with us at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open," Sandie said. "By getting these kids on the course next to some of the greatest athletes in the world, we're giving them the opportunity to learn from the pros, seeing first-hand how athletes deal with the pressure of performance and learning that through hard work and dedication they can achieve their goals.

"Those champions that exercised their chance to be inside the ropes and get an up-close and personal view of professional golfers are no doubt getting the experience of a lifetime."

HOLE REPORT

The easiest hole on Saturday was No. 9, the 616-yard par-5. It played to a 4.507 average, yielding four eagles and 33 birdies.

The 518-yard par-5 fourth was the second-easiest, playing to an average of 4.563. The hole yielded six eagles, 24 birdies and just five bogeys.

The most difficult hole was the 183-yard par-3 16th. It played to a 3.423 and yielded six birdies, 14 bogeys and 11 double-bogeys.

The second-most difficult hole was the 220-yard par-3. It yielded just two birdies, 19 bogeys and four double-bogeys while playing to a 3.352.

UNKIND MOVING DAY

It was moving day on Saturday and two players who entered the third round tied for second at 10-under-par 134 took significant steps backwards.

Larry Mize shot a 7-over-par 79 and dropped all the way down into a tie for 43rd at 3-under-par 213, while Nick Flanagan shot a 5-over-par 77 and dropped to 5-under-par 211, which put him in a tie for 25th place.

BIG MOVE FORWARD

Chip Sullivan, a club pro and the 2007 national club pro champion, barely made the cut at even-par 144 for 36 holes.

On Saturday, Sullivan ripped off six birdies on the front side en route to a 7-under 65 which catapulted him into a 10-way tie for 10th place at 7-under-par 209.

FACTS & FIGURES

Sponsor exemption Rob Grube, who made the cut at 144, fired a third-round 69 for a 54-hole total of 213 ... Lefty Tim Wilkinson shot a 3-under-par and sits at 213. Fellow lefty Eric Axley shot a 1-under 71 and sits at 209 ... Past RTO champs Notah Begay and Kirk Triplett had nice days. Begay shot 70 and stands at 213, while Triplett shot a 4-under-par 68 and is at 211...Jonathan Byrd had two eagles Saturday, at the fourth and the 11th holes. Four other players have had two eagles this week: Neal Lancaster, Kevin Streelman, Omar Uresti and Charles Warren. Both of Lancaster's eagles came at No. 4 this week. He's also eagled that hole in 1999 and 2003. In the history of the Reno-Tahoe Open, Steve Flesch, Harrison Frazar and Bill Glasson lead the way with five eagles each... Bob Heintz has the longest drive of the tournament. He bombed a 435-yarder on the par-4 10th hole on Thursday.

- Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or (775) 881-1281