By Ronnie Gallagher
@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — The third leg of Rowan County’s Triple Crown of Golf begins today and Keith Dorsett is the man who can grab it all with a victory in this weekend’s Labor Day tournament at the Country Club of Salisbury.
Dorsett has already streaked to wins in the Rowan Masters at The Warrior (his seventh in 10 years) and in the Rowan Amateur at Corbin Hills.
Among those standing in his way are last year’s Labor Day stars Richard Cobb and Joey Boley. As defending champions, they didn’t have to qualify and they’re the No. 1 seed. But Cobb knows Dorsett is lurking
“He’s always a threat,” Cobb said. “He’s the best one around here right now.”
Ronnie Eidson is always a threat too, but Cobb added, “He’s in the Senior Division and that’s just fine with me.”
Cobb and Boley received a tough draw for their 1:30 p.m. match today in John Kyger and son, Johnny.
at The Warrior recently.
Cobb had back surgery last November and still feels the aches.
“If we make it to Monday, it will be a painful day,” he said.
Cobb has an unusual Labor Day history. He lost in the finals in 1991, 1996 and 2005 but rebounded for wins in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
He said he was ready to give up the competition and play for fun but Boley urged him to team up last year.
“I told him not to expect too much,” Cobb smiled, remembering last year. “I was going through the motions. We saw the young kids (Alex Nianouris and Troy Beaver), the Dixons and the Kygers and thought we were told old to win that bracket.
“We didn’t have any expectations, so we relaxed and won.”
Dorsett has his work cut out for him. All of the area’s top golfers are entered.
He won his only Labor Day title with Eric Mulkey in 2004 and is quite aware of what the 6,593-yard, par-71 Donald Ross course can do to a golfer mentally.
“The toughest part is that it makes you keep it in the fairway if you want to have any chance of making birdie,” Dorsett said. “I feel like I’m a good enough wedge player to get it in the hole for a birdie or par.”
Meanwhile, Cobb and Boley will continue their ritual on each hole.
“Everybody says we’re too serious,” Cobb said, “but they don’t see what we’re doing in the cart. We’re singing tunes from commercials. It loosens us up.”
Cobb doesn’t mind the spotlight being on Dorsett, who is playing with brother Michael. The Triple Crown isn’t won very often around here.
“This is probably the best time I could go for it,” Dorsett said. “I need to get a little help from my brother.”
Play resumes on Sunday and the final will be Monday.