Cisne takes command

Jim Cisne has won the Jacksonville City Tournament three times, but he hasn’t claimed a title in this decade. Or the one before that. Or the one before that.

Cisne, who won his three titles in the 1970s while a standout golfer at the University of Arkansas, sits atop the leaderboard in the men’s gross division after firing an even-par 72 Saturday at The Links Golf Course in Jacksonville.

The former champ is now only 18 holes away from ending his 30-year JCT title drought.

“It might be an inspiration to the old men around here,” Cisne said with a laugh.

Cisne holds a four-stroke lead on former champion Bobby Sims, who sits in second after struggling through a tough day on the greens to finish with a 3-over-par 75.

“I hit it pretty good, birdied the first hole and made a few bogeys, but I had a nice putt on (No.) 13 for a birdie,” said Cisne, who has two sons playing in the tournament. “That putt kind of helped me regain my momentum and I finished even.”

So what will it feel like when he tees off with the lead Sunday morning?

“It makes you nervous, I can’t lie,” Cisne said. “It’ll be a little nerve-racking tomorrow.”

Sims, a former standout himself at Ohio State University, fell four shots behind Cisne after trailing by just one stroke after two rounds.

“I hit it pretty good, but I putted so bad the last two rounds it’s almost embarrassing to be out here, so tomorrow I might putt with a 2-iron to see if I can get it going because it’s so bad,” Sims said. “It was probably the worst back-to-back putting rounds I’ve had, the last two rounds.”
Clay Yates, who won the JCT in 2006, is five shots behind Cisne but could have been closer.

“I hit it really well for 17 holes, then I hit a couple bad shots coming in and took an 8 on the last hole to shoot a 72,” Yates said. “I played well, though, other than the last hole.”

Mike Woods is seven shots behind Cisne. Scott Weber is eight back, and Nick Cisne is nine shots behind his dad.

In the men’s net division, Pat Gibson grabbed a one-stroke lead over Kevin Pennell and Chip Sutphen.

“I’ve been fortunate,” Gibson said. “Last Sunday and today I played pretty well, but I’m still fully capable of blowing up and finishing 16th out of the guys that made it to this weekend.”

Actually, that’s what Gibson did last year, finishing dead last in the 2007 men’s net division. “The only thing I really did come in this year thinking was that I wasn’t going to come in last again,” he said.

Sutphen, who started the day four strokes behind the leaders, shot the best round of the day in the net division with an 8-under par 64.

“That is the best round I’ve had this year,” Sutphen said. “I haven’t been shooting in the 70s — last year I was, but I haven’t been playing that good this year.”

Paige Loughary overtook Dianna Sutphen in the women’s gross division Saturday after shooting an 85. Loughary is now three strokes ahead of Sutphen.

“Paige is out in front now,” Sutphen said. “I’m going to have to bring my ‘A’ game and she’s going to have to bring hers. Paige has a wonderful drive, and can recover great, and that’s the strength of her game.”

Sharon Dobson continues to lead the women’s net division after shooting a 2-under-par 70 Saturday. Dobson leads second-place Marcia Klusman by 10 strokes.

The JCT concludes today with the fourth and final round.

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