Citizen Staff Writer
BRYAN LEE
brylee@tucsoncitizen.com
Not one to let a perfect spring day pass him by, David McDaniel crafted the best of his four straight Tucson City Amateur championships.
“The first day was a desert course (Fred Enke) and (Saturday at Randolph) I missed a lot of putts,” McDaniel said, “but (Sunday) I got rolling.”
The Canyon del Oro High graduate rolled over the Dell Urich back nine with a 63 and won the title by 12 strokes with a 10-under- par 274.
There were no illusions about what the script was as Championship Flight golfers arrived Sunday ready to battle for second place.
It was a man playing against boys – literally, although University of Arizona sophomore Takuyi Fuji eventually claimed second with a 65 Sunday.
The boys were high school stars Billy Flower of Catalina Foothills, Ian Patterson of Immaculate Heart and Alex McMahon of Ironwood Ridge.
One thing the trio learned was Dell Urich looks nice and easy, especially on a sunny day with light breezes, but it can bite you.
“Trouble on a few holes,” said Flower, who salvaged a tie for fourth place.
Flower had four birdies on the front nine and the roles were reversed on the back when Patterson go hot. Patterson missed a chance at a finishing birdie when his downhill lie rolled over the hole.
The greens were making their own breaks, the two agreed.
“This course will keep you honest,” Patterson said.
Aside from McDaniel’s clinic, the story of the day was Fuji, who moved up from eighth place.
“I hit the iron shots all day,” he said. “I never had a putt of more than six feet.”
Fuji plays the game regularly but would like to improve.
“I want to walk on and play for U of A,” he said, “but so far nobody wants me, I guess.”
Championship Flight
Top 20
1. David McDaniel 71-68-72-63–274
2. Takuya Fuji 76-70-65-65–286
3. Billy Flower 77-67-76-69–289
4. Ian Patterson 73-72-76-69–290
5. Sean Mihalyi 74-74-74-69–291
5. Alex McMahon 73-68-77-73–291
Others: 7. Mike Bevins 292, 8. Armen Dirtadian 293, 8. Raymond Franco 293, 10. Scott Camp 297, 10. Craig Bauley 297, 10. Tim Hynd 297, 13. Phil Summersett 298, 14 Scott Smith 299, 14. Rick Kandler 299, 16. Justin Stacy 300, 17. Jon Jaress 301, 18. Allan Phillips 302, 18. Hamid Badghisi 302, 20. Larry Pagel 303, 20. Greg Cesarek 303, 20. James Demorest 303.