McGatha, Rogers win in playoff
- Updated: August 4, 2014
Jeremy McGatha (L) and Matt Rogers won the James E. Jackson Memorial Sunday in a playoff.
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
Jeremy McGatha sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole Sunday to give he and partner Matt Rogers the title in the inaugural James E. Jackson Memorial Two-Man Scramble.
They trimmed Jake Minnix and Lee Morgan in the final round played at LaFayette (Ga.) Country Club. Both teams shot 26-under-par in regulation.
Minnix made an 18-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole and McGatha put a 10-footer on top of it to extend the playoff.
“Matt and I have had some good fortune together,” McGatha said. “We’re going to Pell City next week, where we won about a month ago; hopefully we’ll keep it going. We’ve been playing good together right now. It’s been fun.”
The two playoff teams battled for the lead all day. Minnix-Morgan had a one-shot lead through 10, but McGatha-Rogers went eagle-birdie to move into the lead. They extended that lead to two on 14, but it was even again going to 18.
Minnix left a 25-foot uphill birdie putt on 18 a roll short for the win in regulation. Both partners left birdie chips inches shy on the second playoff hole.
“When Jake chipped it, I thought he made it, but once they missed we had the putt to win,” McGatha said. “Matt hit a good putt, barely missed on the right edge. I had the perfect line.”
CAREER ROUND: Benji Turley appears to be returning to form just in time for the Calhoun County Championship.
Turley, who took four months off early in the season to rest a sore shoulder, shot a career-best 62 (8-under-par) in a round with Grant Hockman and Eric Cannington at Anniston Municipal Golf Course Sunday. He was 6-under on the front and 9-under through 13.
“I was seriously thinking about getting it in the 50s; I hadn’t missed anything all day,” he said. “It was the easiest round of golf I’ve ever played. I didn’t miss a shot for 16-and-a-half holes.
“I felt like a pitcher throwing a no-hitter and had a bunch of guys throwing against me.”
As smoothly as things were going, Turley hit a speed bump on 17. He was 65 yards out, got too cute with a wedge that left him short and wound up making bogey.
His previous best round at The Hill was a 5-under 65. His best round in a tournament-like situation was 67 on several occasions.
Al Muskewitz is Content Editor/Senior Writer of East Alabama Sports Today. He can be reached at musky@wrightmediacorp.com and followed on Twitter @easportstoday1.
JAMES E. JACKSON MEMORIAL
TWO-MAN SCRAMBLE
Final results
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Jeremy McGatha-Matt Rogers 60-57—117
Jake Minnix-Lee Morgan 58-59—117
Levi Nix-Ernie Brabner 58-63—121
Jaylon Ellison-Josh Jackson 59-62—122
Tim Gamble-Johnny Bentley 58-67—125
Jeremy Rieger-Scott Hays 60-65—125
FIRST FLIGHT
Jacob Morgan-Keaton Stanfield 61-62—123
Scott Farmer-Brian Burgess 63-64—127
Keith Atkinson-Tim Trammell 64-64—128
Kurt Ingram-Cole Ingram 65-63—128
Adam Lawrence-Tyler Tidmore 62-67—129
Steve Baker-CJ Murphy 64-65—129
SECOND FLIGHT
Jeff Keen-Allen Keen 67-63—130
Rodney Van Pelt-Jeff Woodall 66-65—131
Marc Hardeman-Daniel Stewart 66-66—132
Ben Higgins-Katie Martin 68-71—139
Jeff Meadows-David Howard 69-77—146
Phillip Hicks-Scotty Mcfry 74-75—149
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