Win caps unlikely comeback

Spencer Patterson

Friday, June 18, 1999 | 10:29 a.m.

Lying in his hospital bed in November, 1997, David Evenson never imagined he'd hold another golf trophy again.

The victim of a head-on auto collision, the promising young golfer from San Diego's Rancho Bernardo High School had suffered a broken jaw, internal bleeding, torn knee ligaments, a broken arm and permanent damage to his vision -- making a return to top-notch competition unlikely at best.

"So many parts in me were destroyed, I really didn't think about golf," Evenson said. "I was pretty screwed up."

After a long recovery period that included intense physical therapy, Evenson did return to the links. And on Thursday, his hard work paid off with his first American Junior Golf Association title at this year's Las Vegas Founders' Legacy junior tournament.

Evenson finished the three-day event with his best round, shooting a four-under 68 to bring his total to 209 -- two better than his closest competitor.

"I got back on the course as soon as I got doctor's clearance, but I lost my consistency," said Evenson, who had five top-10 national finishes prior to his accident. "So to be able to combine three good scores here feels good."

Playing in the final group, Evenson held off Reno's Travis Whisman despite the two-time Nevada high school champ's tournament-low 33 on the back nine. Evenson followed up a front-side 33 with a 35, making six birdies on the day despite warm, windy conditions.

"I thought the wind might help me since he's from San Diego and I'm used to playing in wind in Reno," said Whisman, a senior-to-be at Galena. "But he just played great all day long. He's a really nice guy and a great champion."

Evenson's solid short game keyed his victory, a remarkable accomplishment considering he wears special glasses while putting to correct double vision when he looks down.

With his high school graduation slated for next Wednesday, Evenson arrived in Las Vegas still undecided about his college plans but is leaning heavily toward the University of Minnesota. After his win here, that may change.

"I just heard that a couple of coaches have some interest in me now," said Evenson, who was born in Minnesota. "But I'll probably still go to Minnesota."

* ABIECUNAS REPEATS AS GIRLS CHAMP: On the girls side, Colorado's Nancy Abiecunas successfully defended her title, although not without a scare from Californian Anne Lee.

After three days and 72 holes, Abiecunas, a senior-to-be at Ft. Collins High, and Lee, a 1999 graduate of Diamond Bar High, stood dead even, tied at 215.

The two trekked off for a sudden-death playoff at No. 14, which provided some of the event's strongest winds blowing directly into the golfers' faces.

Those conditions proved deadly for Lee, whose third shot landed in a bunker just short of the green. Abiecunas made it safely to the green in three and two-putted for the title.

"I realized it was blowing hard, so I just made sure I could get it on the green," Abiecunas said. "I made a couple mistakes today, but I made some key shots when I had to."

The best local finishes were provided by Durango's Chad Fosburg, who tied for 11th with a 217, and Green Valley's Mary Fernandez, who shot 226 for eighth place among girls.