By Tim Schmitt
LEWISTON — Tim Mickelson had a feeling that a recent respite from golf might catch up to him at the 51st Annual Porter Cup.
The brother of PGA star Phil Mickelson was tied for the lead with Mike Van Sickle after two rounds at Niagara Falls Country Club, but was worried about the conditions expected to roll through the course. He was vying to give the Mickelsons the first family connection to the title. Phil won the event in 1990.
“When I saw the forecast and saw it was going to be blowing 15 to 20 (m.p.h.), I knew I was in trouble,” Mickelson said. “I haven’t been able to practice much, so my wind ball, my three-quarter shots, keeping it low — I just haven’t been able to practice that. And that’s what’s been troubling me the last couple of years. I knew it was going to be a tough day.”
Mickelson made bogeys on Nos. 4, 5 and 7 and then another on No. 11, but hit a big drive on the par-5 No. 13 and just missed an eagle putt.
“I just didn’t hit it very good on the front,” he said after finishing with a 74 on the day and in a tie for eighth with Harris English, Adam Mitchell, Jim Roy and Drew Weaver. “If I hit that eagle putt I’m still in it, and I might have even been in it after I tapped the birdie putt in, but I turned right around and gave it back on 14.”
Despite the setback, Mickelson said he was pleased with his effort, his best at a Porter Cup, especially in light of the recent breast cancer troubles plaguing his mother and sister-in-law.
“It’s nice to be able to come out and play, to get my mind off of what’s been going on and to play decent. Decent to good,” he said.
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Although Cody Gribble didn’t end up with the green jacket or even as the runner-up, the 18-year-old from Dallas will likely be heard from again soon.
Gribble’s irons were sharp on Saturday, including a second shot on the par-4 No. 14, a shot that landed just inched past the cup, then nearly hit the stick as it hopped backward.
Unfortunately, Gribble missed a 12-footer for birdie, then had another great chance after sticking an iron close on No. 13. He missed both putts, but then made a huge putt on 18 to get into the playoff.
“I’m right there. I came up short a little bit, but I’m going to breakthrough,” he said. “I think I can play with these guys. It might take a few years, but hopefully, it’s sooner. I think I can do it.”
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Second-round co-leader Van Sickle should have called it quits after the turn. The Marquette product was the leader after nine, but shot a 42 on the back to fall well out of contention and into a tie for 23rd at even par.
The trouble started on No. 10 when Van Sickle took a triple-bogey. He added a bogey on No. 12, then double-bogeyed No. 17 before finishing with a bogey on No. 18.
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It took a bit for 2008 champ Adam Mitchell to get rolling, but with the pressure off, Mitchell shot the lowest round of the day on Saturday — a 66. Also tied for the honor were Mike McCoy and Peter Uihlein.
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Count Andrew Yun among those who thought his 20-foot putt on the third playoff hole would fall as it rolled uphill. Instead, Brendan Gielow chipped in after Yun’s putt lipped out.
“I thought it was straight in. There was no doubt in my mind it was going down,” he said. “You can’t do anything about it. Then he chips in. It was a great playoff. I did all that I could, but he outlasted me.”
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
