Posted online: May 29, 2005 11:54 PM
Print publication date: May 30, 2005

McCarty nabs QC AM Tour victory

By Tom Johnston, tjohnston@qconline.com

Chad McCarty and Josh Nelson both wondered Saturday after shooting 5-under 67s at Emeis Golf Course if their games would hold up since they hadn't been in the hunt for a victory in a while.

Both did just fine Sunday in the final round of the Quad City Amateur, firing their second sub-par rounds of the 36-hole tournament. McCarty carded another 67 to top Nelson's 69.

"It's been a long time," said McCarty, trying to recall his last victory, which he said was his fourth straight Iowa City Am title in 2003. "But it felt comfortable. I got off to a good start hitting my driver, which is my key."

A birdie on the 149-yard fifth hole gave McCarty a two stroke lead after Nelson bogeyed the par-3 second. Both birdied the short par-4 8th before Nelson eagled the par-5 9th to square the match again, both making the turn in 2-under 34.

The long-hitting McCarty, of Tiffin, Iowa, birdied 11 and 12 and never looked back.

"He just played really, really well," said Nelson of the winner.

It definitely wasn't a case of Nelson playing poorly in shooting 8-under for his first tournament since regaining his amateur status last October.

"If you had told me I was going to shoot 8-under, I would have taken it and never teed it up; that's a good score, I think," said the former St. Ambrose University NAIA all-American. "He was just really solid."

Nelson's biggest problem seemed to be a bulky putter. He three-knocked twice -- once for par.

"I didn't leave that many out there, but maybe enough to have made it closer," said Nelson.

While hitting his driver well was key, McCarty really didn't take advantage of it. He birdied only one of the four par-5s -- hitting 5-iron, 8-iron and 7-iron into the par-5 greens he failed to birdie.

"Making those pars with a 7- or 8-iron was tough," admitted McCarty, who managed to keep his composure through those rough patches.

Still, Nelson figured the comfort zone and McCarty's short game were the difference.

"To play well in tournament golf, you have to have a lot of faith in your short game -- especially your ability to putt," said Nelson. "I've lost some of that. ... From 100 yards and in, he was better than I was and that was the difference in the tournament."

Two-time defending champ Brian Soucinek said he had his "C game" with him Sunday and stumbled to a 2-over 74 that left him in a five-way tie for fourth at 144 with Steve Schwabe (76-68), Chris Wilkins (74-70), Kevin Kilstrom (72-72) and Dave Struve (72-72). Moline's Joe Irwin was one of only five firing under-par rounds, carding a four-birdie, two-bogey 2-under 70 for solo third.

-- Flight winners: A bunch of other winners were crowned Sunday with Chad Volquardsen (78-69--147) winning Championship A flight and Mike Armes (84-77--161) taking Championship B flight. Tom Swanwick (71-72--143) won a coin toss to take the Senior Championship title from Tom Wolfe and Dave Lackey (81-77--158) won his coin toss for the Seniors A flight over Pat Stopulos. Another coin toss went Steve Reeder's (85-81--166) way for the Super Senior title over William Armstrong. Nicole Keeney (78-83--161) won the nine-player women's flight and Mike Kammerman (75-78--153) and Bobby Tunberg (87-84--171) took the Men's A and B flights, respectively.