A regular at the Harlan Invitational since he was a teenager in the late 1990s, Matt Gann has won numerous tournament titles, including three straight from 2014 to 2016. He can’t remember a better first round than he enjoyed Saturday in the 86th annual tournament at the Harlan Country Club when he shot a seven-under par 61 with eight birdies and an eagle.
Gann, a Pineville resident who is the principal of the Bell County Technology Center, held a three-stroke lead over Braxton Caldwell after the first day and came with a 66 to win the tournament with a combined score of 127 to defeat Caldwell by two strokes. Connor Leisge, who had the best score on Sunday with a four-under par 64, placed third at 130. Codie McDowell and Zack Fowler tied for fourth at 134.
“It was a really good round yesterday. That’s the best I’ve shot here. To come out with a lead like that allowed me to let the other guys take chances today. It worked out. I didn’t have a bogey until 16,” Gann said. “I played solid today, which is what I set out to do.”:
Championship flight
Matt Gann 127, Braxton Caldwell 129, Connor Leisge 130, Codie McDowell 134, Zack Fowler 134, Kevin Burns 135, Andrew Forester 137, Drew Chamberlain 141, Cole Cornett 143, John Hoskins 143.
First flight
Brett Widner 140, Gabe Mikoguchi 141, Ed Leisge 142, Elmo Greer 142, Joe Gill 142, Garrett Greene 144, Ronnie Caldwell 146, Lewis Gray 146, Eli Estep 147, Tyler Casolari 148, Danny Caudill 150, Aiden Johnson 151, Mark Keith 152, Jared Sizemore 153, Brendan Rutherford 154, TIm Frazier 155.
Second flight
Brandon Myers 147, Jon Estep 149, Jackson Cole 149, Tommy Polson 151, Billy Turner 152, Jared Cornett 153, Gary Grant 154, Jared Gilbert 154, Joe Carroll 156, Tucker Brock 156, Mike Granato 158, Dennis Garrett 158, Clyde Daniels 159, D.K. Smallwood 160, Mike Johnson 164, John Lindon 165.
Third flight
Todd Collett 158, Marcus Johnson 159, Greg York 164, Ryan Clem 164, Jeff Ledford 165, Lawson Cantley 166, Keith Brewer 166, James Lawson 166, John Bryson 168, David Vanover 169, Mason Garrett 170, John Turner 171, Mason Himes 172, David Crisp 177, Lee Vanover 177.
Fourth flight
Logan Napier 181, Shawn Ward 183, Rayce Lindon 187, Steven Wynn 191, Cody Taylor 193, Robby Harris 196, Quinton Boggs 200, Ryan Skidmore 206, Dwayne Craig 207, Ronnie Campbell 217.
