At the Golfweek Senior National Championship in Greensboro North Carolina, the stage was set for a spectacular finish.
Golfweek No. The three men were all considered favorites to win the championship going into Wednesday's final rounds: 1 Vance Welch (Carolinas Golf Association Hall of Famer), Paul Simson, and Ironman athlete Walker Taylor. The three men had a combined history of hundreds of victories and championships. It seemed that the winner would emerge from the last group.
Not So Fast
Winds were blowing throughout the final round at Grandover Resort, making it even more difficult than expected. The winds increased the number of options available off the tee as the driver was taken from the player's hand at many holes during the week.
Simson appeared to be on his way to another win early in the round. Simson, who was two under par on the front nine holes, opened up a six shot advantage over Welch.
Simson's final round 75 was enough to earn him a T3 at 2 over. Taylor's 77 matched Simson’s (+2) tournament total. He was unable to avoid bogeys and finished with a final round 75.
Welch's front nine of 43 became unsurmountable after he shot a birdie free 81. He dropped from the 36 hole lead to ninth place (+6).
Two men who stayed off the stage the entire week survived the East Course gauntlet.
Sherrill Britt, who was consistently in the top five all week, teed off just two shots behind the leaders in the penultimate round of the final round. Mike Combs started the day in fifth place but he knew that he could make a comeback due to the windy conditions.
Combs said that the wind was blowing at 30 miles per hour. Golfweek
Combs' ball on No. 9 rolled out of the hole because it was so windy. He was fixing his pitchmark when the ball rolled away from the hole on No.
It rolled five feet farther from the hole due to the strong wind. It was funny ."
Combs gained momentum after a pair of birdies at Nos. 10 and 11. Ten and 11.
After a carding 1 under 71, he was able to take the lead in the clubhouse at 1 over.
Combs had no choice but to wait for the two final groups. Combs could not help but think about the shots he missed on the 18th par 5, as he thought Britt would birdie it.
He said: "I was sweating it out." "I was sweating out ."
Britt parred the last hole, and the two made it to the No. The playoff will be played at No. 10 in a sudden death situation.
Combs decided to put pressure on the ball by holding the tee. Combs drove a driver into the par 4 fairway, leaving himself with a sand wedge to the green.
Britt stuck with his game plan, despite Combs hitting the fairway. Britt pulled a 3 wood in the rough to the left and hit a great wedge into the front of green. He had 25 feet for birdie.
Combs closed the door with his wedge, while it was still open.
Combs, who had Britt at par, stood in front of his putt. Then he turned away.
"I felt the nerves just a bit," Combs said Golfweekspan size="font weight: 400 ;">. "I was so nervous that I even backed off my putt. I said, "Darn it! Let's go!" and confidently stroked this into the hole.
Combs did the unthinkable by finding the bottom of his cup. The Georgia native, Home Depot executive and Golfweek bridesmaid was able to secure his first Golfweek victory with the birdie.
This win propels him up from 15th in the Golfweek Senior Amateur Rankings to inside the top 5. The win catapults him from No.
Super Seniors (65-69)
Combs was not the only winner of Wednesday's playoffs. Bob Edens (+4) of South Carolina won a four hole playoff against Randy King.
Legends (70-74)
Charley Yandell won his first-ever wire-to-wire victory with a round of 75. Yandell won by five shots with a total of 220.
Super Legends (75+)
Frank Costanzo, like Yandell won the Super Legends division by a landslide. Costanzo had a five-shot lead after two consecutive sub-age rounds. Costanzo's final round of 78 was enough to secure a four stroke victory and a total tournament score of 8 over 224.
By: Brayden Conover
Title: Mike Combs wins playoff in come-from-behind victory at 2023 Golfweek Senior National Championship
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/06/15/mike-combs-wins-2023-golfweek-senior-national-championship/
Published Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2023 16:35:06 +0000
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