SAN JACINTO – Patrick Flavin’s experience playing under winter conditions in the Midwest at Ohio University and growing up in Illinois paid off in droves on Friday, March 10, at Soboba Springs Golf Course in the ASHER Tour’s Soboba Springs Classic.
Flavin, a member of the Korn Ferry tour using this week’s event to stay sharp during a layoff between events of a month and a half, posted a third round of 64 with eight birdies and no bogeys in a steady drizzle which became light rain to win by five shots on Friday afternoon. It’s his first professional win in approximately four years and he earns $18,000 for the victory.
Tied with Moreno Valley’s Michael Herrera after 36 holes, Flavin went down the 18th fairway on his opening tee shot and cashed in on a well struck mid iron shot for birdie to take a one-shot lead after one hole. Flavin made four straight birdies from three through seven with a combination of lethal ball striking and a warm putter to go out in five under par 31. He’d lead by two shots at the turn.
“Growing up in the Midwest I probably developed a higher tolerance for playing in inclement weather than most folks and that experience definitely proved helpful today,” Flavin said. “This is a well-run tour with quality fields on quality courses and I’m so happy I got this opportunity because it’s hard to find places to play during this break. I had a lot of fun getting to know these guys and hanging out with them off the course too.”
Herrera made a 30-foot bomb on the par four 10th hole from just in front of the green and used a stellar approach shot at 11 to make back-to-back birdies, pulling even with Flavin. On 12, both Herrera and Flavin gave themselves good opportunities for birdie but only Flavin cashed in, once again giving himself a one-shot lead. A hole later Herrera made his only mistake of a stellar week when a mis-struck approach shot spun all the way down the front slope guarding the 13th green and into a penalty area. He’d make a double bogey, fall three behind and trail by five after 54 holes. Flavin made back-to-back birdies at 17 and 18 to give himself the eventual winning margin.
Herrera was the overnight co-leader after an opening round 60 (the new course record) and even par 72. “I gained a lot of confidence this week and am really happy with where my game is at. For most of the day I was right there except for one bad swing,” Herrera said. “I’m playing here in a Mackenzie Tour (what used to be known as PGA Tour Canada) qualifying tournament next month and it’s a good feeling to know I can take it low on the same course where that tournament will be held.”
The final round commenced, and our leaders got through 12 holes before a heavy downpour created ponding on the greens which forced head official and tour owner Michael O’Leary’s hand. “We were doing fine and thought we’d get it in before that steady downpour got us,” O’Leary remarked. “Once you start getting casual water accumulating on greens it’s not a tough call at all from an officiating perspective and we told the guys we’d make every effort to get them all the way through 72 holes. We were probably two or so hours from getting there.”
Murrieta’s Josh Anderson finished in a T44 after rounds of 72-70-73=215 (-1). The ASHER Tour will be at the Golf Club of Fallbrook for the Fallbrook Open from Monday, March 13 – Wednesday, March 15.
Derryl Trujillo can be reached by email at socaltrekkie@gmail.com.
