By Tim Schmitt
LEWISTON — The unfortunate story after Friday’s second round of the storied Porter Cup wasn’t who might emerge in Saturday’s final round, but if the round will be played at all.
Friday’s action didn’t start until 11:30 a.m. after crews tirelessly pulled water from bunkers and used squeegees to clear waterlogged greens at Niagara Falls Country Club. What typically stands as a trickle of a creek on No. 12 — the hole made famous by Tiger Woods’ ace in 1994 — flowed nearly as high as the bridges that traverse it. One player who used a tee to mark his ball on the second hole when a late-afternoon shower hit found the tee completely submerged in water when he returned from the stoppage.
After washing out Thursday’s play, Mother Nature put on quite an encore Friday.
When the day was complete, Tim Mickelson remained tied for the lead at 7-under, but eight groups of three didn’t finish the round. Those golfers will tee off at 7:30 a.m. today in hopes of finishing their rounds. The final round — organizers decided after Thursday’s inclement conditions to hold the tournament to 54 holes — is tentatively slated to start at 10 a.m. with the awards ceremony expected to be held at 6:30 p.m.
One player who didn’t seem fazed by the wet conditions was Mike Van Sickle, whose scorching 65 put him into a tie for the lead with Mickelson. Cody Gribble, who was tied with Mickelson after the opening round, finished with an even-par 70 and is one shot off the lead.
Cameron Tringale matched Van Sickle’s 65 for the best round of the day, although he stands four shots off the lead. Van Sickle, the son of Sports Illustrated golf writer Gary Van Sickle, finished third in last year’s Porter Cup.
Although the schedule juggling made life difficult on Tournament Director Steve Denn and his board of directors, at least most of the golfers completed the second round. Early Friday morning, the directors met with Khlar Holthouse, the grounds superintendent at NFCC, who said in no uncertain terms that the course wasn’t playable.
After concessions were made — caddies weren’t allowed on the greens, and play started off the back nine, which drains more efficiently — the directors decided to go ahead with Friday’s round.
“Khlar was concerned because of what happened last year when we lost a green (after another rain-soaked tournament),” Denn said. “We went to the board of directors and it was basically universal that we decided to play.”
If rains continue today, it’s possible play will be halted after 36 holes. Or directors have considered calling the event after nine more holes, using just the back nine.
“It’s a worst-case scenario,” Denn said. “We’re going to hope it doesn’t come to that.”
This all comes on the heels of a 2008 event widely considered one of the worst for weather.
“Unfortunately or fortunately, last year we had five evacuations, so we were more in tune with what needed to be done,” said Dr. Sal Menante, this year’s general tournament chairman. “Last year was the rain and the thunder. This year it’s the saturation of the course. It’s incredible what Khlar and his crew did just to get this course somewhat playable.”
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
