Twiner's success continues

By CAREY FREEMAN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 8, 2001

CRYSTAL RIVER -- Rebecca Twiner is on a roll.

Just a month removed from the completion of a remarkably successful freshman season at Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, N.C.) -- a season that saw Twiner garner the Catamounts' golfer of the year award -- the Crystal River graduate and 1999 Times Citrus/Hernando Golfer of the Year was at it again this week.

Twiner outlasted inclement weather, heat and nine other competitors to claim the title in the State Farm Collegiate Players Tour's opening event at Wild Wing Plantation in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Twiner won by three strokes Wednesday in a tournament shortened from 54 to 36 holes by lightning Tuesday.

"I had a few holes I'd like to take back," Twiner said. "Other than that, I have no complaints. I putted well, and everything just clicked."

Twiner took the lead from the onset and had completed 29 of the 36 scheduled holes Tuesday when lightning forced the golfers off the course. Officials decided to shorten the event so that players could complete the tourney Wednesday and make flights home.

Twiner, who made the drive from Crystal River to Myrtle Beach with her mother, Barbara, needed no such help. Twiner's opening-round 77 gave her a two-stroke lead entering Wednesday, and she followed that with a 74 in the final round to beat Stephanie Schaefer of Overland Park, Kan., by three strokes.

Twiner credits the win to her improved putting stroke and ability to memorize an unfamiliar layout after just 18 holes.

"I've been working on my putting a lot, every day actually, and I think it paid off," she said. "It was really hot on the first day, and I was dreading walking 36 holes. But we had an hour break between rounds and, when I went out, I felt great.

"The first 18 holes was the first time I had ever seen the course," Twiner said, "but the next time around I was confident with the holes and knew where I should and shouldn't be."

Twiner suffered through double-bogies on the par-4 third and par-5 ninth holes, but scored a birdie on the par-3 sixth when she rolled home a 25-foot putt. Her game was more solid in the second round as she posted 14 pars, a birdie and two bogies.

Twiner birdied the 140-yard, par-3 11th hole Wednesday after putting her tee shot within 15 feet, then rolling home the putt.

"It's good to be involved in a tournament like this just for the experience," said Twiner, whose victory earned her a trip to the tour championship, Aug. 13-15 in Dallas.

"Also, you are playing with people at the same level as you who are going through the same things in college. I've always considered myself a smart golfer, but I think I've gotten even smarter over the last year."

Twiner's next stop is next week's event at The Club at Eaglebrook in Lakeland. It is one of the tour's four "five-star" tournaments and is expected to draw a significantly larger field than the most recent event.

Twiner, who grew up playing on the Bermuda grass and flat layouts found in Florida, thinks she will be one of the contenders for the title in Lakeland.

"I'm used to that type of golf course," she said. "Where we play in Carolina, there is a lot of elevation and different grass. I think I'll definitely have an advantage. I've been around that kind of course my whole life."

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