Costly free fall for Flesch

Adam Candee

Monday, Oct. 13, 2003 | 10:08 a.m.

As he walked to the seventh tee with a huge smile after draining a 30-foot birdie putt seconds earlier, Steve Flesch held the outright lead of the Las Vegas Invitational by one stroke over Stuart Appleby and Scott McCarron.

Flesch then bled cash all the way down the back nine Sunday, freefalling down the leaderboard after being in or near the lead of the LVI for four days. He finished in a tie for sixth place with Woody Austin at 25-under after firing a disappointing 2-over 74. Most disheartening, though, is how Flesch dropped the last stroke to tie with Austin.

After crossing the water at No. 16 in three shots, Flesch stubbed a chip from short of the green on the par-5, 560-yard hole. He also hung his potential par-saving putt inches away from the hole, and then attempted a nonchalant backhand swipe for a bogey. Oops.

Flesch missed, hitting the ball past the hole. The embarrassing double bogey dropped him from 27-under to 25-under, where he finished after two pars. The mishap cost Flesch $5,000 in prize money.

Flesch played the back nine at a 4-over 40, without recording a birdie.

Notable is the first cash of the year for former UNLV standout Edward Fryatt, who shot 3-under to finish in 79th. Fryatt took home $7,280.

Former Rebels Chris Riley and Skip Kendall led the group by finishing in a 10-way tie for 33rd at 18-under, earning $19,400 apiece. One-time Clark High star Robert Gamez closed with a 70 to tie for 43rd at 17-under and earn $13,600.

Henderson's Craig Barlow, among the leaders through the first three days, shot 73 both Saturday and Sunday. That tied him for 47th at 16-under, earning $10,576. UNLV alum Chad Campbell tied for 62nd at 12-under to pocket $8,400.

Jeremy Anderson, a former Rebel, and Ernie Gonzalez, a local who earned a sponsor's exemption, both missed the cut.

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