Clemson sophomore earns SNGA ‘major’ title

Joseph Harrison might not be good enough to make Clemson's golf team, but the way he played Sunday could have the Tigers reconsidering their decision.

The 20-year-old Boulder City resident shot a 3-under-par 69 for a two-day total of 142 to win the Southern Nevada Amateur at Legacy Golf Club in Henderson by two shots over Craig Erickson.

It was the first Southern Nevada Golf Association victory for Harrison, who played at Green Valley High School. He just completed his sophomore year at Clemson, where he is majoring in business management.

"I hit a lot of greens Saturday and (Sunday)," Harrison said. "The difference was I got a few putts to fall."

Harrison was one of only three players in the 43-man Scratch Division field to break par Sunday.

Though the conditions were calm, the greens were playing slow and the pin placements made it tough to shoot at the flags.

In addition to Harrison's 69, only Max Marsico, who finished third at 145, and Robert Futrell broke par, both shooting a 2-under 70.

Erickson, the first-round leader, was unable to maintain his three-shot advantage going into Sunday's final round of the SNGA's first "major" of 2009, shooting a 1-over 74.

Harrison played steady golf the entire weekend. He was tied for second going into the final round. He took advantage of the four par-5s at Legacy, making birdie on three of them. That, along with a 30-foot putt at the par-4 16th sealed the win for him.

"When I came out Friday to hit balls, I could tell I was swinging well," Harrison said. "I knew I was capable of putting it all together. I just hadn't done it before."

Yet, he can't even walk on at Clemson, which traditionally fields one of the nation's best collegiate golf programs.

"It's a great team," he said of the Tigers. "Maybe the coach (Larry Penley) will see that I won this tournament and he'll look at me a little different."

In the Net Division, Las Vegas' Chris Piper shot a 66 Sunday for a two-day total of 135 to beat George Yocum by three shots and Rob Zoine by four shots.

In the Seniors portion of the tournament, Frank Acker of Las Vegas won the Scratch Division with a 3-under 141, and Jimmy Bradley captured the Net Division with a two-day total of 139.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.