Golf junkie claims first-flight title

It has been a long time since Jeb Kraul had as good a round of golf as he had on Sunday.

Kraul, a Costa Mesa resident, finished the Costa Mesa City Golf Championships in style, tallying a net 62 on the Mesa Linda course at Costa Mesa Country Club. His two-day total of 136 made him the humble champion of the first flight (handicaps between four and eight).

He edged out Brad Furry (138), Tim Bjelland (139) and Paul DeForest (140) to win.

“I’m thrilled,” Kraul said. “I’ve had my share of high 80s and miserable rounds of golf.”

Kraul, 52, grew up in Sacramento and Tampa, Fla.

He played golf at Chamberlain High in Tampa and Seattle University, from which he graduated.

“Today was the best round of golf I’ve had in like 20 rounds,” Kraul, an accountant, said.

Kraul has been golfing since he was 7. He said when he’s not working, he’s golfing.

“All I ever do is play golf,” Kraul said. “I have no other life.”

Kraul said his game was starting to unravel toward the end of his round on Sunday. But he pulled it together in time to chip in a shot for a birdie on the 18th hole.

“It was getting ugly at the end,” Kraul said. “Golf is very psychological for me. But I tend to hang in there despite some questionable nerves.”

Kraul, who said he has been playing the Costa Mesa City Golf Championships for about eight years, finished as high as third in the first flight five years ago. He credits strong putting and an occasionally good four-iron as keys to his success on the golf course.

Other top finishers in the first flight included Scott Henderson, who was fifth with a two-day score of 141.

Tying for sixth at 142 were Robert Harvey, David Jones, Pritesh Padhiar and Dave Schuler.

Tying for 10th were Keith Cotarelo, Greg Dyer and Jeremy Evans.

In the second flight (handicaps between eight and 10), James Johnson was the winner with a two-day score of 132, edging out Mike Mell (134) and Eno Angulo (135).

Mell had a one-stroke lead over Johnson after recording a 68 on the Los Lagos course on Saturday.

But Johnson’s 63 on Sunday catapulted him to victory.

In the third flight (handicaps between 11 and 16), Bill Johnson held on for the victory.

Johnson had a two-stroke lead after recording a 67 on the Los Lagos course on Saturday. He followed that with a 63 on the Mesa Linda course on Sunday for a two-day total of 130, four strokes better than second-place Hiroshi Muraoka (73-61?134).

Timothy Riley finished third in the third flight (137). He was followed by Dan Sargeant (138), Brendan Neary (139), Mike Wolter (142), as well as Stanley Tabangcura, Tom Green, Roger Collins, Stephen Edwards and Mike Younger at 143.

In the senior flight (55 and older), Big Canyon Country Club senior men’s champion Warren Caves won with a two-day gross score of 138.

Larry Grant finished second with a 141 grosswhile Mike Blum and Marty Temple tied for third (145).

Bobby Dunham and Bill Cunerty tied for fifth at 148.

Dennis Iden (150), Dennis Noren (151), Tom Shine (152) and Robert Morrisette (153) also were in the top 10.