RUMFORD, R.I. – Texarkana golfer Garrett May won the prestigious 58th Northeast Amateur Invitational Golf tournament Saturday at Wannamoisett Country Club.
It wasn’t the way the former Texas High and Baylor golfer finished, it was the way he played in the first three days. May posted a 63 in Wednesday’s first round, following with scores of 67 and 65. He built a 5-shot cushion going into Saturday’s final round.
His lead was a precarious one stroke going to the back nine after a double bogey at the par-3 third hole, and a triple-bogey at the par-4 fourth. Birdies at 2, 11 and 14 helped him breath easier, but the outcome was in doubt after a double bogey at the par-5 17th.
May finished with a 5-over-par 74 on the final day, which was still two shots better than Stewart Hagestad of Newport Beach, Calif., and Scott Stevens of Chattanooga, Tenn. May had started the day at 12-under on the par-69 course.
Weather delays were a factor Saturday.
Prior to his big scores on the last day, May made only two bogies in the first 54 holes.
Some of the former champions in this event include Ben Crenshaw, Hal Sutton, David Duval, Luke Donald and Dustin Johnson.
Bringle Lake 4-Ball golf event tees off
Justin Fitts eagled the short par-4 13th hole Saturday to help his team capture a share of the lead in the first Bringle Lake 4-Ball Tournament at Hank Haney’s Texarkana Golf Ranch.
Fitts and Eric Osburn combined for five birdies and that eagle to shoot a 6-under-par 66. They slipped up at the par-3 second hole, with both suffering a bogey.
It was Osburn leading the way early with birdies at 3, 6 and 10. Fitts birdied the par-5 12th hole prior to his eagle, and Osburn birdied the par-3 17th.
They’re tied with local racing legend Gary Wright and Shane Malone.
Wright and Malone combined for eight birdies and an eagle in their round. Wright posted a 3 at the par-5 eighth hole from the white tees. Twice they birdied the same hole (5 and 13). They both bogied the par-5 16th. Malone then bogied the final hole, while Wright scored a double-bogey.
The tournament concludes Sunday, with the winners taking home $600.