Published: July 26, 2009 11:56 pm      

PORTER CUP: Rain couldn't compromise event

LEWISTON — This Porter Cup playoff stuff is nothing new to Tournament Director Steve Denn. A decade ago, Denn was on the bag of current PGA Tour player Jonathan Byrd during a three-hole aggregate playoff against Hunter Haas.

Byrd — who has since racked up more than $10 million in tour winnings — missed a putt on the final hole and made bogey, allowing Haas to earn the title at Niagara Falls Country Club.

“I gave him a great line,” Denn joked of Byrd’s miss.

While extra holes are old hat to Porter Cup organizers, the recent batch of bad weather the tournament has suffered through is something novel. This year’s 54-hole tournament marked just the second time since the event expanded to four rounds that an entire round had to be scratched.

And that comes on the heels of a nasty spell of rain last year that forced players to play 36 holes one day.

When the clouds finally cleared on Saturday, though, fans and organizers were treated to an incredible finish as Brendan Gielow, Andrew Yun and Cody Gribble went to a three-way playoff and Gielow captured the crown by sinking a chip from off the green on the third extra hole.

“It’s nice because the tournament will now be remembered for something other than the weather,” Denn said. “Instead of a feeling of relief, it’s a feeling of happiness. I’m proud of the job that the entire committee did. It was truly a team effort, maybe more than last year when we had all the weather problems. We had to dig down deep to get it done.”

The weather was a constant theme throughout the week, but most of the players seemed unfazed by the delays. Even the final round got disrupted as thunder in the area forced the final two groups to come off for more than 30 minutes with the tournament on the line.

“This is my sixth and I know last year we also had trouble with the weather, but before that I don’t ever remember a rain delay. Hopefully, it’s just something short term and as golfers, we know this is part of the deal,” said Tim Mickelson, the brother of PGA Tour star Phil, who finished in a tie for eighth after leading the event through two rounds. “But the hospitality at this event is so good, it doesn’t make a big difference that it was only 54 holes. This is a great place to play.”

Denn said the event’s success, especially in the face of difficult weather, proved the Porter Cup can overcome numerous obstacles.

“We don’t want to take anything for granted in terms of our ability to conduct a golf tournament. You’re only as good as your last tournament if you screw something up, word’s going to travel. We certainly don’t want that,” he said.

“The Porter Cup over the years has built up such a reputation for excellence that you want to make sure you protect that.”

Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.