Posted online: July 17, 2005 11:56 PM
Print publication date: July 18, 2005

Flaherty keeps cool to win QC Open

By Tom Johnston, tjohnston@qconline.com

Photo: Gary Krambeck
Tim Flaherty of Davenport hits off the 17th tee during his round at the Quad City Open on Sunday at Glynns Creek Golf Course in Long Grove, Iowa.
More photos from this shoot

Tim Flaherty said he wasn't expecting much out of his golf game in the amateur portion of the Quad City Open. He hadn't been playing much and hadn't been playing particularly well -- by his own standards -- when he was getting out.

The Davenporter maximized his game for three days over the par-72 Glynns Creek Golf Course. Following Saturday's 6-under 66 with a Sunday 1-under 71 gave Flaherty the win in the National City Bank Amateur Tour event that was played in conjunction with a professional event.

Flaherty's 210 total ended up topping new St. Ambrose University player Ben Hanson (212) by two strokes. Mark Drenth, Kevin Kilstrom and Adam Seitz tied for third at 214. Tied for sixth at 215 were opening-round leader Greg Rios and Chris Wilkins.

Hanson and Wilkins shared the day's best amateur round with their 2-under 70s.

"It was definitely a grind; it was hard out there," said Flaherty after just his second NCBAm Tour event of the season. "It was worth all the hitting drills I do and all the chipping and putting. This makes it nice."

Making it even nicer was doing it with his son, Jon, as his caddie Sunday. Dad was not only able to show off his golf game, but also taught a lesson along the way. It was one that was a long time coming for Tim to learn and hoped Jon can bank it sooner in his budding career.

Flaherty made the turn in 33 and was well on his way to cruising home with the title under that pace. But he made bogey on the par-4 10th hole and double-bogey on the par-3 11th when his club slipped from his hands on his tee shot.

In the past, there would have been a good chance to see an eruption from "Mt. Flaherty." Instead, he said he looked at Jon, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Let's go make some birdies."

Flaherty did just that, keeping his cool on a simmering day. He birdied the next three holes -- all par 4s -- to get back to even. He said pro partners Chuck Moran and Dave Narveson even gave him kudos for keeping his composure.

"That's something Jon is struggling with, so it was important to show him how to do that and not just tell him about it," said the 43-year-old of his teenager.

Even when he righted the ship, it could have still not been enough. A bit of bad luck kept Hanson, the Quad City Amateur co-champ in 2004, from tying.

"I hit the pin on 14 and the ball ricocheted about 40 feet away," said Hanson, who had two three-putts among his 34 strokes with the putter. "I should have had 3-feet for birdie and ended up making five. That's the two-shot swing I needed right there."

-- Waugh a winner: Dave Waugh literally limped home with the NCBAm Tour's senior amateur title. Struggling with a bad hip that may keep him from today's Senior U.S. Open qualifier at Crow Valley Country Club, the Davenporter shot a final-round 79. Waugh's 223 total held off John Brooke (225) and Ed Dooley (225) atop the 12-man finals field.