Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Recovering Robinson makes it back to city championship finals against Blackmar

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Friday, June 25, 1999

Recovering Robinson makes it back to city championship finals against Blackmar

By stu duncan
Caller-Times

Welcome to Miss Robinson's neighborhood.
   King High School golf coach Patty Robinson has felt right at home playing in this year's Corpus Christi Women's Golf Championship.
   Who could blame her?
   After all, Robinson - better known as Miss Robinson to her students - had advanced to the finals each of the last four years heading into Thursday's semifinal round of the Open Division Championship Flight at Pharaoh's Golf Club course.
   Make it five in a row.
   Robinson didn't have her most productive outing Thursday, the tournament's three-time defending champion ousted six-time tournament champion Arnette Clark in 14 holes, claiming the 5 and 4 semifinal match play victory.
   For the fifth straight year, Robinson will meet Carol Blackmar in today's finals with tee time set for 9:58 a.m.
   Blackmar held off Kristen Lowe, 4 and 3 to reach the championship round.
   Blackmar defeated Robinson to win the championship in 1995, but Robinson has topped Blackmar each of the last three years.
   Robinson advanced despite having not fully recovered from injuries suffered during an automobile accident last January when she suffered a concussion and a neck injury after the vehicle she was in slid on ice and flipped over.
   "It's bothering me but I can still play golf," Robinson said of her neck. "When I hit the shot low it bothers me. When I get the shot up, I swing through."
   No troubles
   Robinson didn't seem to have any troubles shooting down Clark.
   Clark plunged shots into the water on holes six and seven to help Robinson go 3-up.
   Clark recovered with some nice work on the greens to prevail on hole 8 to cut Robinson's lead to 2-up before they tied on 9.
   Robinson answered with her best effort - on the 10th - when she made a long birdie putt to forge to a 3-up lead. She later set herself up nicely for a short putt on 13 when she lifted a shot over a small tree blocking her path.
   "I just invested in some new wedges," Robinson said with a smile.
   That helped Robinson go 5-up with five holes to play. Then came a confused moment.
   The players hugged after playing the hole when they momentarily thought Robinson was 6-up with five holes to play.
   They soon realized it wasn't over, however, and tied on the 14th hole to ensure Robinson's victory.
   "She's always going to be a little longer than me and I'm going to have to be hitting more club," Clark said. "So it's always going to come down to chipping and putting. It's never fun to get beat, but if you're having a good time and you're playing against a neat person - it's OK."
   Brief struggle
   Blackmar struggled with her wedge on 7 in the other semifinal, but played well enough the rest of the way to outlast the pesky Lowe.
   Blackmar said another title would be welcomed but she wasn't consumed with getting it. "There is (pressure) but I try to think it's not the end of the world either," said Blackmar of the possibilities of losing in the finals for a fourth straight time. "Phil's (her husband who's a PGA touring pro) golf game is a lot more important than my golf game in the city championship. And that puts everything into perspective."
   Corpus Christi Women's Golf Championship
   Thursday's results
   At Pharaoh's Golf Club course
   Open Division Championship Flight
   Patty Robinson def. Arnette Clark 5 and 4; Carol Blackmar def. Kristen Lowe, 4 and 3.
   First Flight
   Cathy McInturff def. Ginger Loeffler, 4 and 3; Rae-Ann Regmund def. Dolores Garcia, 3 and 2.
   Consolation bracket
   Susan Dittmar def. Betty Nelson, 2-up.
   Senior division
   1st flight
   Remy Frank def. Betty Lange, 4 and 3; Charlotte Sherman def. Linda Seaquist, 1-up.
   Consolation bracket
   Jean Wingfield def. Peggy Elmore, 4 and 3; Sally Pritt def. Mary Schwartz 6 and 5.
   2nd Flight
   Fay Sassman def. Georgianna Jacobsen, 5 and 3; Susan Selcer def. Betty Kemp, 1-up.
   Consolation Bracket
   Gertrude White def. Peggy Martin, 5 and 4; Dottie Jarvis def. Gloria Haddad, 1-up.

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