Published: July 27, 2009 07:48 pm      

David Snyder defends his Eagle’s Nest Invitational title

Somerset — For the second straight year, 17-year-old David Snyder turned the annual Eagle’s Nest Men’s Invitational golf tournament into a youthful event.

Just days away from taking to the classroom for his junior year at Somerset High School, Snyder schooled over 100 local adult golfers in winning his second consecutive Eagles’ Nest Men’s Invitational golf title with a two-day total of 139, 3-under par.

Snyder shot an opening round of 73 and trailed Ryan Tucker (70) and Mickey Ray (72) after the first day. However, the 2008 Kentucky All-State golfer scorched his way to the front of the pack after going six-under-par after the first seven holes of Sunday’s round. Snyder carded a 66 (-5) on Sunday to win by five strokes over Mickey Ray and Ryan Tucker, who both shot two-day totals of 144.

“I was putting ‘lights out’ on the front nine on Sunday,” Snyder said. “I had eagles on holes five and seven on the front nine. Then, I just held it together on the back nine and tried not to make any mistakes.”

Snyder stunned the Eagles’ Nest Invitational field last year, as a sixteen-year-older, when he shot a 5-under par, 137 to claim his first local title.

“Last year, I was pretty nervous having to play alongside Derrick Centers in the final round,” Snyder recalled. “But over the past year I have grown as a golfer and I have more confidence in my game. This year, I didn’t feel like I had to press and I let everything come to me. Overall, I didn’t putt great, but I placed myself in positions to make putts.”

Andrew Heiser finished fourth in the championship flight with a 145 and Johnny Cain finished fifth with a 147.

Flight winners were as follows: 1st Flight — Derrick Centers 151, Joe Travis 154, Preston McClung 154, Greg Grider 158, Mike Centers 158; 2nd Flight — Brandon Shelby 155, Jeff Snyder 160, Dave Fraley 161, Allen Burchett 165, Davin Roberts 165; 3rd Flight — Kyler Barnett 164, Russ Presley 166, Bill Lewis 166, Jack McNeely 167, Jim Ed Stout 171; 4th Flight — Craig Allen 161, Corey McGlothlin 161, Fareed Koury 162, Alex Pappas 164, Macky Coomer 166; 5th Flight — Gary Marshall 177, Jeremy Lancaster 178, Grant Ashton 179, Chris Laughhunn 180, Bert Flynn 182; 6th Flight — Cliff Martin 170, Stew Irwin 174, Andrew Yates 179, Curt Rader 182, Jacob Chandler 182; 7th Flight — Ken Robinson 194, Bill Neikirk 202, Kenny Goodman 203, Albert Calhoun 204, Joe Kataluk 214.