Country Club of the South pro David Potts (left) topped a field of 66 to finish low medalist in the 19th annual Griffin Classic Tuesday at the Griffin Country Club, while Spalding High freshman Tye Waller finished low amateur as well as low local in the two-day Georgia PGA Section event. (John Sullivan/Daily News)
“For me it was all about the putter for sure,” said Potts, whose 66 was the final-round low in a field of 66 at the Georgia PGA Section event. “I rolled it well and drove it well that’s for sure.”
Potts — who birdied No. 3 but gave it back at No. 4 — birdied No. 5, 6 and 7 to wrestle the lead away from Stevens who started the round with a two-shot lead over Greg Lee and Skinner (each at 69) and a three stroke lead over Potts (70) after posting an opening-round 5-under 67 the day before.
“I knew at that point I was in the hunt,” Potts said of his run at 5, 6 and 7.
Playing in the next-to-last group, Potts was alone in the lead by the seventh hole. Stevens — who had a birdie at No. 2 but bogeys at 3 and 6 — birdied No. 8. But Potts met the advance with a birdie at No. 9 to retain a one-stroke lead. Potts then birdied No. 11 to grab a two-stroke lead before he met another birdie by Stevens at No. 11 with a birdie of his own at No. 12 to retain a two-stroke lead.
Potts then bogeyed No. 15 as his lead over Stevens dropped to a stroke, but Stevens birdied No. 16 right around the same time Potts sunk his tournament-winning putt on No. 17.
Skinner birdied No. 5 to get within of one of Stevens in the lead at 5-under early in the match, but a bogey followed at No. 6 and Skinner never could mount a charge until he birdied No. 13 and eagled No. 14 to get to 5-under on a day where Lee birdied No. 1 but fell out of contention with bogeys at No. 5 and 6. Lee birdied No. 9 to make the turn 3-under for the tournament but double bogey No. 15 to be relegated to a fourth-place finish, six strokes off the pace.
“It was even more special to be right there with players like Craig Stevens and Sonny Skinner, and Greg Lee charging,” said Potts, who has won a few pro-assistant team tournaments in the section but scored only his second major individual low medalist honor with Monday’s effort, his first coming in the match play championship two years ago. “Holding them off will be something to remember and hopefully call upon in future tournaments.”
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LOW AMATEUR/LOW LOCAL: Spalding High freshman Tye Waller shot a 75-75—150 to finish in as low amateur and low local by a stroke over fellow Griffin Country Club member Lee Brannon 76-75—151 and Berkley County Club’s Grant LeRoux 76-75—151. Local amateur Joey Tinsley finished a stroke further back at 74-78—152, while Griffin Country Club’s Trey Manley 79-74—153 was two strokes back.
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