Spanish Trail makes it tough to score

Adam Candee

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 | 9:27 a.m.

Only six golfers were at par or better after one round of the Nevada State Amateur Championship at Spanish Trail:

Matt Kodama...68

Chad Fosburg...68

Ken Ebalo...70

Michael Karlburg...71

David Nelson...72

Paul Johnson...72

As he reached the turn Tuesday morning at Spanish Trail, Matt Kodama was asked how he played his first nine holes.

Not so well, Kodama responded. He shot 38 on the Lakes Course, a challenging track that allowed only a few scores under par all day in the first round of the Nevada State Amateur championship.

Kodama's back nine on provided much more enjoyment, though, as he blistered the Sunrise Course for a 30 that vaulted him into a share of the opening-round lead with Chad Fosburg at 4-under 68. Those low rounds looked especially impressive on a scoreboard showing only four red numbers and 27 rounds of 80 or higher among 60 participants in the championship division.

Kodama, who recently qualified for the U.S. Amateur with a strong 36-hole day at Southern Highlands, was scheduled to go off in this morning's final group of the championship division of the tournament. Fosburg will play three groups in front of Kodama, who is also slated to be part of Nevada's entry in the prestigious Pacific Coast Amateur in Eugene, Ore.

Kodama and Fosburg were the only players to shoot under 70 on Tuesday, with Ken Ebalo trailing the pair by two strokes after posting a 33 on the back nine. Michael Karlburg followed with a 1-under 71 for the final sub-par round, while David Nelson and Paul Johnson both opened with even-par scores of 72.

Brady Exber and Frank Acker, who own a combined nine Southern Nevada Golf Association player of the year awards, headline a group of six players who enter today's play at 73.

While Kodama is playing well, Fosburg is also in the midst of a hot streak. A former City Amateur winner and prep star at Durango and Bonanza, Fosburg won the Paiute Amateur 10 days ago against many of the same competitors playing in this week's state amateur championship.

Jimmy Bradley holds the early lead in the net division with a 67. Steven Jeffers and Craig Kemnitz both shot 69 to share second place.