Classic, doesn’t disappoint
by JOHN SULLIVANSports Editorjsullivan@griffindailynews.com
Jul 12, 2007 | 183 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
As usual the Griffin Classic, just completed Tuesday at the Griffin Country Club, didn’t disappoint. The Georgia PGA section event, in its 16th year, just seems to get better with each installment.

With that, here’s this year’s awards issued by the Griffin Daily News:

n The 1-in-a-Million Shot - There have been a number of hole in ones at the tournament through the years, but none as dramatic as the one hit by Jeff Hull on No. 18 Tuesday to win the tournament by two strokes and in the process set a tournament record with an 11-under score of 67-66-133.

He used a 5-iron to ace the 198-yard, par 3 and collect the winner’s check for $4,500.

n Die-Hard Award: Will Hutter of the Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simon’s had a share of the lead with 2004 Classic champion Craig Stevens when he got to the 15th hole in the final round.

A bogey there, however, hurt him as Stevens, his playing partner, birdied the next hole to assume the lead, and a group behind him Hull birdied the 15 and 16 to pass Hutter and tie Stevens at 9-under heading to 17.

n Comeback Player AWARD: Ocean Forest pro Bryant Odom shot an opening-round 71, but closed with a tri-tournament low 65 on Tuesday (the other 65s coming from 2001 and 2002 Classic champ Clark Spratlin and Shawn Koch of the Country Club of the South) to grab a brief share of the lead at 8-under at one point.

Of course playing six groups behind the final pairing, Odom was already in the clubhouse by the time that happened. He could only watch the leaderboard as Stevens and Hull dueled it out down the stretch and he finished in a tie with Hutter for third.

n Old Pro Award: Give it to Fox Creek pro Craig Stevens. With birdies at 3, 4, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16 and a lone bogey at 10 (where he hit it through the fairway), Stevens -- who was in a four-way tie for second at 68, a stroke in back of Hull when the final round started -- did all he could to keep the pressure coming throughout his final-round 66.

n Low local: Lee Brannon shot an opening-round 68 to sit in a four-way tie for second place in the overall tournament heading into the final round, but by tournament’s end Brannon 68-77-145 and Joey Tinsley 74-71--145 tied for the low local.

Brannon was the tournament’s low local last year, while Tinsley was the tournament’s low local in 2004.

n Low amateur: This was settled in a playoff as John Saari of Duluth (70-70--140) topped Greg Garde of Settingdown (70-70--140) on the first hole of a playoff.

n Most Pleasant Addition: Goes to go to 14-year-old Ollie Schniederjans IV who shot a 73-75--148 to finish tied for 50th in a field of 144.

Sullivan is the sports editor at the Griffin Daily News.
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