Sheridan back in the swing

COSTA MESA ? Bryce Sheridan, a big hitter from Costa Mesa High who competed in the prestigious World Long Drive Championship in Mesquite, Nev. last year, shot four-over-par 74 during the first day of the Costa Mesa City Golf Championships.

Playing with Grant Hill (79), Patrick Hanley (80), and T.J. Vick (82) in the championship flight on the Mesa Linda course at Costa Mesa Country Club, Sheridan admitted he had a so-so day.

But the 2002 Costa Mesa High graduate was not surprised or concerned.

“I haven’t been golfing much at all,” Sheridan said. “That’s why I’m not too depressed.”

Sheridan said he had some issues with his chipping and that his putts were not falling.

“I had a nice three-putt on the first hole,” Sheridan said.

Subpar putting was the theme of the day, due in part to difficult pin placements, like on the 18th hole, where the pin is about two feet from a sharp downward slope on the right side.

“Yeah, nice pin placements,” Sheridan said.

Sheridan works at a restaurant and holds a second job installing windows, which has kept him from logging quality time on the golf course. Taking that into consideration, Saturday was not a bad day for him.

“Everything felt good today,” Sheridan said. “But nothing happened for me. Then I had bogeys on the last two holes.”

Sheridan hasn’t competed in any long-distance events since last year, but plans to give it a shot again.

“I’ll probably jump out in a week or two and try to qualify [for the World Long Drive Championship in Mesquite, Nev., in October],” said Sheridan, who has competed in long-drive competitions for two years.

In last year’s World Long Drive Championship, he reached the fourth round, one round shy of the quarterfinals. His longest drive was 333 yards in wet conditions.

Leading the championship flight after one day is the University of Oregon’s Joey Benedetti, who shot seven under par on the par-70 Mesa Linda course. Benedetti, who went to Huntington Beach High, will be a junior this season at Oregon, which recently hired Casey Martin to be the new men’s golf coach.

Benedetti was followed by Aliso Niguel High’s Kevin Irwin, who carded a 65, Newport Coast’s Amit Chopra, who shot a 66 and Jamie Estrada (66). Hollis Kelley, Danny Lane and Adam Marshall will all take 67 into today’s final 18 holes.

A total of 16 players finished in the 60s, including former Long Beach Wilson High and Long Beach City College standout Andrew Elliot, who recorded a 68.

Elliot is slated to attend UNLV in the fall.

“I was striking the ball well,” Elliot said. “But I need to putt better.”

Also having trouble with his putting was Newport Harbor High boys’ and girls’ golf coach Scott Tarnow, who was competing in his first tournament ever.

Tarnow, who finished with a 10-over-par 80, was a baseball player at Indio High, College of the Desert, Chaffey College and Cal State Fullerton before taking up golf.

“It was pretty nerve-racking,” Tarnow said. “It was fun but I never felt comfortable out there. I play this course quite a bit and I told myself there’s nothing different about today. But I never felt comfortable.”

Tarnow said while his iron play was a strength, he could have putted better.

“Today I had a lot of three-putts,” Tarnow said. “It seemed like every pin was on a corner or a ledge.”

Former Costa Mesa High baseball star Matt Broesamle shot a 74 to stay relatively close, while 2006 Estancia High graduate and Oregon-bound Marcus Sostak finished with a 78.

In the first flight (handicaps between four and eight), Sid Crossley leads the field, shooting par-72 (net 66 adjusted with his handicap) on the Los Lagos course. He is followed by Scott Henderson (69), Jack Milliken, Pritesh Padhiar and Dave Schuler (all at 70).

In the second flight (handicaps between eight and 10), Mike Mell leads with a net 68 on the Los Lagos course.

James Johnson shot a 69, Don MacGillivray carded a 70 and Craig Cuthbert and Patrick Wiseman both shot 71.

Taking the lead in the third flight (handicaps between 11 and 16) was Bill Johnson with a net score of 67 on the Los Lagos course.

Stanley Tabangcura and Mike Younger shot 69 and Roger Collins and Dan Sargeant both shot 71.

In the senior flight, Bill Bullock assumed the lead with a net score of 70 on the Los Lagos course.

Big Canyon Country Club senior men’s champion Warren Caves, along with Larry Grant, Dennis Iden and Bobby Dunham all shot 71.

The top 15 finishers in the championship flight tee off today from 11 to 11:40 a.m. on the Los Lagos course. All other championship flight tee times range from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

All other flights tee off on the Mesa Linda course, from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.