Waterloo native finishes job, claims GCRO title

(Marion, Iowa) – (Sunday, July 24, 2011) – Brock Mulder knew it wasn't going to be easy, but it was easy as it goes in Sunday's final round of the 13

^th

Annual Greater Cedar Rapids Open.

In a tournament battered with four weather delays in three days and shortened to 36 holes because of it, the Waterloo native followed up his course-record 61 from Friday with a solid 4-under par 68 Sunday to win by four shots. Perhaps more importantly to his career, he claimed the winner's check of $20,000.

“Today was tough, today was really tough,” said Mulder, who now resides in Dallas, Texas. “Whenever somebody shoots a good low round like that (the 61), it's hard to back up. But I was doing that. I was 5-under through six holes, but I hit a squirrely drive on seven and made double (bogey).

“But I came back and birdied 10 and eagled 12 and that kind of settled me down a little bit,” continued Mulder. “After that I was trying to hit fairways and trying to hit the middle of greens and trying to make a bunch of pars coming in. Nothing silly.”

He bogeyed 14 and 18 on his way in but two eagles early in his round softened those. He finished at 15-under-par 129 to best Chris Thompson (Lawrence, Kan.) and Tom Bliefnick (Decatur, Ill.) by four strokes.

Because of the weather delays – the final one on Sunday lasted nearly two hours and added an unofficial 1.2 inches of rain in 20 minutes to an already saturated Hunter Ridge Golf Course – the tournament was shortened from 54 holes to 36 holes for the first time in its history. The way it worked out meant some players finished the competition on Saturday and the rest on Sunday.

Thompson finished his play Saturday with a 5-under 67 and a two-round total of 11-under 133, equaling Mulder in the clubhouse. Bliefnick, who turned pro only two months ago, fired a 67 Sunday and also finished at 133. Judd Cornell (Omaha, Neb.) couldn't replicate Friday's opening-round 64 and posted an even-par 72 to finish at 135. Bobby Bode (Ft. Lauderdale) and Connor McHenry (Jefferson City, Mo.) both had 3-under par 69s and tied for fifth with 7-under-par 137.

Mulder had never finished better than eighth in the GCRO in five previous attempts, something that didn't sit lightly with him considering he came back home each year to compete in the Waterloo Open and the GCRO. The importance of the win certainly wasn't lost.

“I have put in a lot of time,” said the 30-year-old Mulder. “It means a lot to me to win this tournament. More than anything, the money is going to help me do what I need to do. I haven't had a lot of opportunities to play Monday qualifiers (for bigger tours) and that's because the money has been tight.

“This will allow me more opportunities,” said Mulder, who plans on using the cash for PGA qualifying school and other tournament entries.

Bliefnick was happy with his play, especially considering the weather delays and his short-term experience being a pro. That and the fact he was chasing Mulder's 11-under 61 from Friday.

After making the turn at 1-under Sunday, Bliefnick stepped it up and birdied five holes on the back nine but three-putted 18 for a 32 and a final-round 67.

“I knew coming out that I was going to need something in the mid-60s,” said Bliefnick, an Illinois State graduate who will play in the Illinois Open beginning Monday. “Having a five-shot lead in a 36-hole tournament, you're hoping he just keeps it around par. After the front nine, I knew I needed something low. It was nice to do what I did on the back nine because it will give me more confidence for events coming up.”