Anderson, Ham match low score to win Wharlest Jackson
Published 11:35 pm Sunday, June 26, 2011
NATCHEZ — It’s rare for a team to shoot a 58 in two-man scramble. But this weekend at Beau Pré Country Club during the 2011 Wharlest-Jackson Elks Lodge Scramble, it happened not once, but twice.
The team of Howard Jones and Stephen Hollingsworth did that in the first round on Saturday to take the lead in the championship flight. On Sunday, it was the team chasing the leaders that turned the feat.
Jeff Anderson and Casey Ham went into Sunday’s final round two shots behind Jones and Hollingsworth. By the time the two teams that were paired together were done, Anderson and Ham came out on top by shooting their own round of 14-under-par 58 for a two-day score of 26-under-par 114.
“We got off to a good start. He (Ham) knocked it long and close and I made the putts. My putter was hot today,” Anderson said. “We shot 8-under on the front and 6-under on the back. We eagled No. 5. I hit the pin on No. 9. Dropped down for a gimme (birdie).”
That birdie on No. 9 gave Anderson and Ham the lead over Jones and Hollingsworth. The first-round leading team struggled in its first few holes and were never able to recover once the lead had changed hands heading into the back nine.
What finished off the come-from-behind win for Anderson and Ham was a birdie from just off the green on the par-3 16th hole.
“Course is in great shape. Good tournament. Good turnout. Good food. Too (darn) hot,” Anderson said.
As for Jones and Hollingsworth, they shot a final-round 10-under-par 62 to finish in second place at 24-under-par 120. They ended up with 10 birdies and eight pars.
“Stephen played real well. It’s a fun tournament. Golf course is in great shape. Tom Matthews puts this on for such a good cause, even though he’s not playing,” Jones said. “Yesterday we both played well. Today Stephen was the only one who played well.”
Jordan and Henry Farmer ended up in the third place after shooting 7-under-par 65 on Sunday to finish with a two-day total of 128.
Tripp and Jackson Bryant took first place in the first flight by firing a bogey-free round of 12-under-par 60 – the second lowest score of the day – to end up with a two-day score of 124.
“Jackson played really well. I was just there for moral support,” Tripp Bryant said. “We actually had mulligans today. And we just putted better. This is a great tournament. Tom (Matthews) puts on a good tournament.”
“We both played better,” Jackson Bryant said. “On the back side, we kinda got it rolling. Tripp couldn’t miss a putt.”
Robin Punches and Dan Bland end up in second place in the first flight after a final-round 62 to finish at 126.
Two teams tied for first place in the second flight. Jack Benson and Bub Mullins as well as Tommy Geoghegan and Keith Rayborn both backed up first-round 67s with final-round 66s to finish with two-day scores of 133. Chad Huber and Joe Lessley came in the third place with a two-day score of 134.
The team of Bobby Meason and Eddie Burks ended up winning the third flight after firing a round of 65 to finish at 135.