HARLINGEN — There is only going to be one former Life Begins at 40 champion left standing after today.
Defending champion Ron Kilby and 2021 champion Justin Brown advanced out of their first-round pairing to set up the meeting of champions at 12:15 p.m. today at the Harlingen Country Club.
Brown attempted to defend his title last season, but lost in the opening round. Brown’s gift for making it out of the first round this year is 12-time champion Kilby.
“It is going to be a tough one,” Brown said. “He has won this a million times. He played great today. I played in the same group as him. He is going to be tough to beat. I am going to have to play some good golf.”
Brown already defeated one former champion by knocking Ray Iler out of the competition. Kilby bested Mike Howland, the No. 16 seed of the tournament, on a warm sunny day at the Harlingen Country Club.
“Could not get any better than this,” Brown said. “This is the best weather it has been in awhile, so that was kind of nice.”
Steven Bazan made it out of the first round last year only to lose to Arnoldo Curiel. Bazan returns to the second round after beating Scott Smith. Bazan faces arguably the best legs in the tournament, Henry Cabrera.
Cabrera’s impeccable calf muscles proved the difference against the only other former champion to qualify for the top flight when he bounced Chris Wicker from the tournament.
Curiel looks to make it back to the third round when he faces Dan MacDonald today. MacDonald defeated Michael Villarreal, and Curiel beat The Woodlands’ Andrew Howorth.
Bryan Kennedy had the best score in qualifying when shot a 72, par for the course, on Tuesday. Kennedy defeated John Lackey and is set to face Bob Ermey in Round 2. Ermey beat Lee Hollon.
Today’s matchups are Kilby versus Brown, MacDonald versus Curiel, Ermey versus Kennedy and Cabrera versus Bazan.
| Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 during the Life Begins At 40 Annual Golf Tournament at the Harlingen Country Club. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
| Competitor Rusty Napier is pictured Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 during the Life Begins At 40 Annual Golf Tournament at the Harlingen Country Club. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
| Competitor Henry Cabrera plans his shot Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 during the Life Begins At 40 Annual Golf Tournament at the Harlingen Country Club. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
| Competitor Mike Howland tees off on hole four Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 during the Life Begins At 40 Annual Golf Tournament at the Harlingen Country Club. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
| Competitor Andrew Howorth approaches the tee box for hole four Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 during the Life Begins At 40 Annual Golf Tournament at the Harlingen Country Club. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |
| Competitor Ray Iler tracks his shot from the tee box on hole four Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 during the Life Begins At 40 Annual Golf Tournament at the Harlingen Country Club. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey |