2011 Public Links Championship

Mitchell Successfully Defends Title at Georgia Public Links Championship
Roswell native goes low in final round for back-to-back win

 

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WOODSTOCK, Ga. – Billy Mitchell of Roswell fired a 5-under-par 67 in the final round of the Georgia Public Links Championship on Sunday to defend his title and become the fifth player in event history to win multiple times. Mitchell, who finished at 8-under-par 136 (69-67) overall, is also the third player to win back-to-back titles. Matt Russell of Dunwoody finished with runner-up honors at 5-under-par 139 (69-70).

Beginning the final round at Towne Lake Hills Golf Club tied with three other players at 69 for the lead, Mitchell stayed focus and turned in a bogey-free round to walk away with the championship. Over the two days of competition Mitchell recorded just one bogey, coming on the 18th hole in the first round, and turned in 10 birdies. His final-round 67 is the low-round of the tournament and Mitchell was the only player to register two rounds in the 60s.

"I played good, solid golf all week," said Mitchell. "I drove really good all week, which you have to do here. Today I just stayed aggressive and felt like I was in command. I needed to execute my game, and I tried not to focus too far ahead of myself. I felt confident."

After round one Chris Minkley of Kennesaw, Larry Clark of Kingston and Russell were tied with Mitchell at the top of the leaderboard after opening with 3-under-par 69 scores. Russell ended up in the runner-up spot, Minkley finished in third at 3-under-par 141 (69-72) and Clark finished fourth at 2-under-par 142 (69-73). Those four players were the only ones in the Championship flight to have under-par rounds over the 36-hole event.

"I liked this golf course; it was in really good shape," said Mitchell of Towne Lake Hills Golf Club. "The greens were rolling well and it was a lot of fun. From tee to green, you have to drive it well. You have to think on this golf course and you have to have a plan. It was out there if you play well."

In the 23-year history of the Georgia Public Links Championship, five players have won multiple times. David Potts of Commerce (1994, '95), Jack Larkin of Atlanta (1996, '01), Brent Sizemore of Calhoun (1998, '99, '07) and Dave Womack of McDonough (2003, '05) are now joined by Mitchell in the exclusive multi-winner club. Mitchell, Potts and Sizemore are the three who have gone back-to-back.

Rounding out the top-10, Robert Williams, Jr., of Young Harris tied with Scott Melton of Ringgold for fifth at even-par 144. Randall White of Canton finished seventh at 1-over-par 145, Mark Sweeney of Monroe finished eighth at 3-over-par 147 and Dalton Harpe of Augusta finished ninth at 4-over-par 148. Three players tied for 10th in Tanner Farr of Savannah, Matthew Baker of Lafayette and John Luna of Cleveland at 5-over-par 149.

Robert Fink III of Chamblee won the first flight with a 1-under-par 143, Tom Kates of Atlanta posted 16-over-par 160 to win the second flight and Ed Mathis of Rome turned in a 20-over-par 164 to top the third flight.

 

The par-72 layout at Towne Lake Hills Golf Club played to 6,784 yards for the Championship flight and 6,291 yards for the first, second and third fights. Only the players competing in the Championship flight were eligible for the overall title.