The First Tee Quad-Cities Amateur Tour: Newsroom

Jump, DeWitte lead first round of Palmer Hills Am
By Tom Johnston, The Rock Island Argus/Moline Dispatch
Sunday, May 4, 2003

Defending champ Mike Jump is back atop the leaderboard at the Palmer Hills Amateur golf tournament.

He's joined there by Jonas DeWitte, who matched Jump's 1-under 69 at the modified par-70 Bettendorf course hosting the 2003 First Tee of the Quad-Cities Amateur Tour debut event.

While their final scores matched, how they shot them were both similar and different. Jump hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation, but couldn't find the feel with the short stick. He had three birdies to offset his two bogeys -- one a three-putt on No. 18. DeWitte hit 15 of 18 greens, but said he rarely left himself reasonable tries as he had just two birdies with one bogey.

Still, it put them on top of the 55-man Championship Flight, one shot ahead of Joe Irwin and Dave Waugh, who both carded even-par 70s. Another shot back at 1-over 71 were Tim Flaherty, Dave Holmes, Mike Long and Chris Wilkins.

Tom Miler was alone at 2-over 72.

For the leaders, it was both a satisfying and frustrating sun-splashed day.

"The only thing that drug me down was my putter," said Jump. "I made a couple, but I sure missed a lot of them."

While Jump's day was comprised of agonizing putting, DeWitte was saddled with some iron play that got him to the greens, but didn't leave him many realistic chances.

"Whenever I hit the ball 15 feet from the hole, I made the birdie putt," said DeWitte, who birdied 1 and 4 in a 2-under 34 front side that preceded a 1-over 35 inward none. "I was putting all day from 40 feet, from 60 feet. These greens are huge out here."

The normal par-71 layout is playing to a par-70 as the new 11th hole, transformed into a par-5 but not yet ready for play, is temporarily a par-3. Golfers said the course played a lot longer after this past week's rains. Also making it play a little more difficult were a number of back pin positions on slower-than-normal greens.

"I left myself under the hole for good putts, but then I'd leave them short," lamented Jump, who said he hit driver only five times at the 6,500-yard course.

DeWitte admitted his lag putting was pretty good Saturday, but hopes to leave himself in better position today as he makes a run for his second victory in two seasons on the Quad-City's amateur circuit.

"Coming into (today), I just really need to work on my iron game, swinging a lot smoother," said the former Illinois high school Class A state champ at Rockridge High School.

Front-running Jump admits to feeling at home at Palmer.

"It's a hard course and I can make a lot of pars here," said Jump.

With that in mind, he admitted he wouldn't mind seeing even tougher conditions today if the prediction for bad weather holds.

"If the wind blows hard, even-par is a helluva score here," said Jump. "I hope the wind blows 40 miles-per-hour and it rains."

Seniors:

Ron Rode shot a 5-over 75 to lead the Palmer Hills Am Senior Division by a stroke over Barry Black.

Four others shot in the 70s -- Carlos Salaber (76), Bill Brewster (77), Jack Groves (77) and John Searles (78).

Tom Swanwick is not defending his Senior's title, instead opting to play in the championship flight where he carded a 77.