2016 Four-Ball Championship

 

 

Will Evans, Michael Standard Win Georgia Four-Ball Championship
Duo eagles final hole to seal two-stroke victory 

 

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THOMASVILLE, Ga. ---  Will Evans and Michael Standard, both of McDonough, came from behind to post a 63 in the final round to win the Georgia Four-Ball Championship. The 45th edition of this event took place at Glen Arven Country Club, April 22-24. 

The McDonough duo finished the three-day competition at 26-under-par 190 (67-60-63), giving them the two-stroke victory over Billy Mitchell of Roswell and Chris Waters of Atlanta. Mitchell and Waters held the lead over the first 36 holes of this 54-hole event. 

Mitchell and Waters posted rounds of 63-63 to hold the lead the first two days. On Sunday, the tandem went back-and-forth for the top spot of the leaderboard with Evans and Standard. Walking down the final hole at Glen Arven Country Club deadlocked at 24-under each, Evans made his eagle putt from about 12 feet on the 507-yard par 5 to seal the deal. Mitchell and Waters made par to earn runner-up honors.

The winning duo had a feeling it was close coming down the stretch.

"It felt like we were," said Standard. "Chris made a great 35-40 footer off the back of the green on 17 to halve us. I hit a bad second shot there on 18. Will was right there in perfect position and hit a great shot on the green. Perfect putt. It was great to watch it go in."

This was the first tournament victory on the GSGA circuit for both Evans and Standard. Both who have competed in many statewide competitions in the past. 

"I've been playing in these events since I was 11 or 12, and it's finally nice to get a victory," said Evans. "I could not have done it without my partner." 

Last year's winners from Columbus, Cason Hammock and Jason Fober, tied this year for 23rd at 6-under-par 210 (72-67-71).

Adam Cooper and Bubba Gallops, both of Columbus, finished third at 23-under-par 193 (66-63-64). Cameron Hooper of Atlanta and David Noll, Jr., of Dalton came in fourth at 20-under-par 196 (68-62-66). In fifth place on the final leaderboard was the team of Erik Martin of Alpharetta and Mark Strickland of Woodstock at 17-under-par 199 (69-63-67). A pair from Alpharetta, Scott Cunningham and Bob Royak, posted a 16-under-par 200 (66-67-67) to come in sixth. John and Neal Quirk, both of Atlanta, finished seventh at 15-under-par 201 (68-64-69). Three teams tied for eighth at 14-under-par 202 to round out the top 10 - James Reed of Atlanta/Bob Vandergriff of Alpharetta (71-64-67); Bubba Gwyn of Duluth/Chris Purvis of Cumming (66-66-70); and Nic Daugharty of Valdosta/Matthew Smith of Valdosta (65-65-72).

A pair of Georgia Golf Hall of Famers competed this week, both making the cut. Carter Mize of Columbus (inducted in 2015), and his partner Wright Waddell of Columbus, finished 25th at 5-under-par 211 (70-71-70). Mize and Waddell have won this event four times (1991, 1995, 2003, 2004). Peter Persons of Macon (inducted in 2011) played with Mike Brown of Atlanta, and tied for 21st at 7-under-par 209 (71-70-68).

Forty players made the 36-hole cut at 3-over-par 147 or better.

Entries were open to two-man teams of male amateur golfers who belong to a GSGA member club. The format of the Georgia Four-Ball Championship was 18 holes of four-ball stroke play each day, and the field was cut to the low 40 teams and ties after 36 holes.