Claude Harmon Invitational under way at Jack Nicklaus' Lochinvar
11/2/2012 | by Benjamin Larsen of AmateurGolf.com
Medalists Sandy Pierce and Hunter Nelson (pictured) advanced in the Mid-Am and Sr. divisions, respectively
HOUSTON, Texas (Nov. 2, 2012) -- After a four-year hiatus, the Claude Harmon Invitational at Lochinvar Golf Club is back --- and underway.
Stroke-play qualifying for the Men's Mid-Amateur and Senior Divisions was conducted Thursday with match play beginning Friday. Quarterfinals and semifinals will be played Saturday with the championship match in each division on Sunday.
Sandy Pierce was the qualifying medalist in the Mid-Amateur Claude Harmon Championship while Hunter Nelson took the honor in the Senior Butch Harmon Championship.
Both medalists moved on after Round 1 of match play.
In the Mid-Am championship, Pierce toppled Jason Edgeworth 3-and-2. He'll take on Chris Taylor in Saturday's quarterfinals. Taylor outlasted Matt McEneny in 19 holes to advance.
Steve Marland, the four-seed, defeated Andy Cooper, 4-and-2, and advances to face Jake Lelois, who knocked off John Talley 1-up in the first round of match play.
Kevin Marsh, who won the prestigious Stocker Cup at The Preserve in Carmel, Calif. last weekend, remained hot, knocking off Daniel Cook 3-and-2. Marsh, a former U.S. Mid-Am champion, earned the No. 2 seed after the qualifier and will take on Billy Joe Tolliver in the quarterfinals. Tolliver defeated John McVaney, 1-up, in opening round play.
At the bottom of the mid-am bracket is Dean Mivalis --- a 2-and-1 winner of James Wu --- and Hans Albertsson, the sixth seed, who knocked off Burt Allen 3-and-2. They'll tee off at noon in Saturday's quarterfinal round in the Mid-Am division.
In the Butch Harmon Senior Championship Division, Nelson defeated Tim Carlton 4-and-3 to advance to the quarterfinals where he'll face Herb FIsher. Fisher outlasted Charlie Jabbia in 19 holes.
Mac McGee advanced, also, defeating Larry Nunez, 3-and-2 to earn the right to face Bill Land, a 1-up winner of Brad Mosing.
Iven Lawson will play Mike Burke. Lawson defeated Hal Wright 1-up while Burke took down Mike Rice by the same score. Finally, Eddie Lyons was a 1-up winner over Alen Fama and will face Jerry Hudgins, who defeated Bob Burton, 2-and-1.
After Thursday's qualifier, each division was split into two divisions --- the championship and cosonsolation brackets. All 32 players in each division will play throughout the weekend at Lochinvar, one of Jack Nicklaus' earliest-designed courses.
The event, of course, honors Claude Harmon, the patriarch of the famous Harmon family. Claude, the father of Butch, Craig, Dick and Billy, was the rarest of club professionals. He was three times a semi-finalist in the PGA Championship, and he finished in a tie for third in the 1959 U.S. Open held on his home course at Winged Foot. His most famous accomplishment as a player came when he fashioned rounds of 70-70-69-70 at Augusta National to capture the 1948 Masters Tournament.
Stay with amateurgolf.com for full recaps and results following each round throughout the weekend.
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