It’s a Wide-open Open
10 Players Within 2 Shots Of Lead
SANTA ANA PUEBLO — There could be quite a chaotic conclusion to today’s final round of the 59th annual New Mexico Open.
But while most of the players near the top of the jampacked leader board will likely be scoreboard watching for one another, it’s a sure thing that most spectators at Santa Ana Golf Club will be keeping on an eye on a guy who’s tied for 14th — but only four shots back.
“I came here with the goal of winning, and that’s obviously still the goal,” says Albuquerque native and four-time PGA Tour champion Notah Begay III, who fired a 4-under 66 to move into the chase after Wednesday’s second round of the 54-hole event.
“I’m playing good golf. I really could have shot 63 or 64, and that’s what I’ll need to shoot (today) to win.”
Begay, who opened with a 71 on Tuesday, is at 3-under 137. He tees off at 8:10 a.m. today off No. 1 (Tamaya Nine).
Rhein Gibson of Edmond, Okla., and James Drew of Las Vegas, Nev., each turned in stellar rounds late in the day to share the lead at 7-under 133.
Drew had a 64 on Wednesday and Gibson had a 66.
Six players, including Albu-
querqueans Wil Collins and David Muttitt, share third at 134.
“I thought the front side played real easy, but then the winds kicked up a bit,” said the 34-yearold Collins, who shot a 69 after being one of five players to open with a 65 for Tuesday’s firstround lead.
“But it’s Santa Ana — you’ve got to get in the right spots on the greens for some good looks, or you’re going to have long days on the green. Also, you have to be nifty with your wedges, and I wasn’t real good with them.”
Collins is one of a number of former University of New Mexico golfers in the field, which has a purse of $80,000 and a winning share of $13,500.
Muttitt, an assistant pro at Four Hills Country Club, shot the low round of the tournament with a 63 on Wednesday.
Tony Finau (65-69) of Lehi, Utah, Kyle Morris (67-67) of Scottsdale, Ariz., Zach Reeves (68-66) of Arlington, Texas, and Chris Baryla (67-67) of El Paso also share third.
Right behind them are Roswell’s Mark England (68-67) and Gunner Wiebe (69-66) of Aurora, Colo.
Albuquerque’s Madalisto Muthiya, who shot 65 on Tuesday, had a 71 on Wednesday and is tied for 11th at 4-under.
Albuquerque’s Bill Harvey (139), a teaching pro at Arroyo del Oso, and Ryan Dillon (137), most recently of Phoenix, also shot 65 on Tuesday. They played in the same group both days.
“We were all grinding in our group, but that’s just golf,” said Dillon, the 2011 San Juan Open champion who sold his house in Phoenix and lives with his wife, Shana, and sons Hunter, 2, and Dalton, 1, in an RV while he attempts to qualify for the PGA Tour.
“Some days things are good; some days they’re bad. I’ve just got to keep going and see what can happen. This is good experience to prepare for Q-School next month.”
The 40-year-old Begay, who won this tournament in 1998, now lives in Dallas and still plays a number of PGA Tour events each year.
He says his mindset is a little different for this tournament, considering the entire purse is just a small fraction of what a PGA Tour winner makes for a single event, but it’s still a big deal for him. He’s playing in his fifth N.M. Open in the past six years.
“Three weeks ago, I’m out there warming up next to Tiger Woods, K.J. Choi, Y.E.Yang, Yani Tseng, Ricky Fowler,” Begay said of his own NB3 Challenge charity event in Verona, N.Y., which he won with Woods as his teammate.
“This isn’t any different, and it’s almost more pressure playing in these events, because you’re expected to place high. If you don’t it’s a bit of a downer, but playing in front of my father, wife and family that came out, it’s always an enjoyable week for me.”
ESTRADA: Belen’s Alex Estrada, who is making his professional debut, shot a 75 after opening with a 68 and is tied for 40th. The top 54 players in the 120-player field made the cut and will play in threesomes today.
MADIGAN: Defending champion Tim Madigan, who skipped this year’s tournament in an attempt to make the PGA Tour, fired a 68 in the opening round of a pre-PGA qualifier Wednesday in Brunswick, Ga., and is tied for 10th. The top 40 in the three-day event advance to the next stage.