Surprise! Freshman Stuns Field

Ed Turner switched putters, shaved 21 strokes off his score and shocked the competition Monday in the City Section golf championships at Wilson Golf Course in Griffith Park.

Turner, a freshman from Palisades High, shot a seven-under-par 65--sinking a 15-foot putt on the 18th hole for his seventh birdie--to win the City individual title by one stroke and help carry Palisades to victory in team competition.

Turner’s incredible finish made moot what proved to be a premature one-hole playoff between Scott Bashin of Birmingham, Darrin Schneider of Granada Hills and Kang Doo of San Pedro, who finished tied at 152.

Bashin, who led the field with a 75 on Friday, scrambled from the trees and the bunker and made an impressive 35-foot putt for par on the playoff hole. Schneider and Doo narrowly missed putts for par.

Bashin dropped his putter and raised his arms in triumph. “That’s the best putt I ever made in my life,” he exclaimed.

Tournament officials jumped the gun, however, by sending the trio off the first tee to settle the tie. While Bashin celebrated, word reached the clubhouse that Turner, who shot an 86 on Friday, was six under with three holes to play.

Turner avoided a playoff with Bashin by sinking his only putt on the 18th green.

Turner made 45 putts Friday while breaking in a new putter. Dissatisfied, he returned to his original putter.

“I attribute it all to the putting,” he said of his victory. “I figured if I eliminated the three-putts, I’d be fine. I was just trying to hang in there. I’m kind of surprised. I thought, maybe, if I had a 64 I’d be among the top 10. I didn’t expect the others to falter.”