Monday, July 16, 2001
East-side pro wins Celebrity Classic
King shoots final-round 66
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Larry King had been putting so badly this year that he decided to go back to last year's putter. It worked.
King, the professional at California Golf Club, shot a 6-under 66 to run away with the Fifth Third/Fox 19 Celebrity Classic at the Golf Center at Kings Island Sunday.
King's 36-hole total of 137 was five shots better than anyone in the field. Six players — pros Rick Witt, Brett Slater, Brian Jones, Sonny Rinala and Tom Bach and amatuer David Macke — finished tied for second at 142.
Three amatuers — Carl Tuke Jr., Neil Lykins and Jim Volpenhein — finished at 143.
King, a 40-year-old who grew up in the Middletown area, collected $10,000 for the first place finish.
He went off relatively early and played the back nine first. His five birdies in his first nine vaulted him to top of the leaderboard. sk,0
“I wasn't playing very well,” said Rob Gerwin, winner of both the Met and Ohio Amateur. “But when I saw Larry's score, it took the wind out of me.”
King did not play as well on his second nine. But he made a 30-foot putt to save par at the par-3 eight hole, and a 20-footer for birdies at the par-5.
That kept his lead at four. None of the players still on the course made a charge.
“There was no pressure on me at the start,” King said. “My caddy, Phil Russo, said, "Let's hit a lot of greens and see what happens.'”
King only hit 10 greens in regulation Saturday and still shot a 1-under 71.
“I was getting up-and-down a lot (Saturday),” he said. “(Sunday), I started feeling it. I taught Frank Lickliter to play. I had a little Frankie going out there.”
It was easily the biggest payday of King's career. But that wasn't all he was collecting.
“The guys I was playing with were betting beers on fairways hit,” he said. “They owe me a bunch of beer.”
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