Sun Country Amateur: Frias, Medina go wire-to-wire

15 May 2011
see also: View results for Sun Country Four-Ball, Santa Ana Golf Club
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SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. -- The final round of the 2011 SCAGA Four Ball Team Championship wrapped up in fine style as the El Paso, Texas duo of Mike Frias and Daniel Medina coasted wire to wire to claim top honors. The texas team strung together rounds of 66, 65 and 63 to finish at 19-under par and win by three shots.

"We started off hot," Frias said after raising the crystal champions trophy. "We cooled off in the middle of the round and had some really good par saves, and then we finished hot. We birdied three of the last four, which was nice considering we had struggled on those last few holes in the first two rounds."

Defending Champions Steve and Tim Madigan, Rio Rancho, N.M., posted a valiant round of eight-under 63 in the final round to try and gain ground on the leaders, but had to settle for the runner-up position. Patrick Hanlon, Las Cruces, N.M. and Anton Salome, Socorro, N.M. who had nipped at the heels of Frias and Medina all week faltered with a final day 68 to finish in a tie for third at 13-under par. And, in the end nobody was able to keep up with the good friends from El Paso who have spent a lot of time together on the golf course.

It feels good," Frias said. "We've played a lot of golf together over the years in El Paso, so to come up here and play really well with Danny is great."

The Los Alamos, N.M. duo of Brandon Rich and Cale Jones seemed to have the President's Flight firmly in hand after starting the day with a three-shot lead and then posting a 31 on the final day's first nine. But, they started leaking oil on the back nine allowing Albuquerque's Brint Clay and Doug Good to climb back into the tournament following their tournament low nine-under 62. In the end, Rich and Jones did just enough to cling to a one-shot victory.

"We started out well and then held on for dear life," Brandon Rich said Sunday following their final round 66. "After a great front nine, we just started making a lot of pars after making so many birdies early on. We did just enough to pull it out."

View results for Sun Country Four-Ball

ABOUT THE Sun Country Four-Ball

Must be a SCAGA member. Limit within 10 strokes of partners. Four-ball stroke play event with men's and women's championship/ net flights along with a men's mid-senior flight (35 & up).