Thompson moves on

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

It is probably a little premature to call him a giant killer, but Billy Thompson pulled off the first upset of this year’s Calhoun County Match Play Championship when he defeated fourth-seeded Grant Hockman 2&1 Wednesday at Cane Creek Golf Course.

Thompson, the No. 13 seed, now faces No. 5 Jaylon Ellison in a second-round match on a date to be determined.

“What, it’s the second match out of eight? I’d say it’s too early,” Thompson said of the claim. “Grant was at the top of the Player of the Year (race) all year long. I was fortunate, because I really didn’t want to play the Top 3, but I didn’t think it would be Grant at 4.

“I felt like with the year he had I had to play good, and I really didn’t play good, he just played worse. It came down to just making a putt.”

Thompson never trailed in the match played at a blistering pace. He won No. 9 with a par to go 1 up and extended his lead when Hockman conceded No. 10. It remained that way after the players swapped birdies on 13 and 14.

Hockman, last year’s Match Play runner-up, won 16 to get back to 1 down with two holes to play, but Thompson, the Calhoun County Tour putts champion, closed the match with a 15-foot birdie putt on 17 after Hockman left his birdie attempt one roll short.

“I figured I had to make that putt because he’s a good putter, and I left it 3-4 inches short,” Hockman said. “He played good enough to win and that’s what match play’s about.

“I would love to have played better, but it just wasn’t made to be and now (he’ll) focus on some of my stuff off the course and work on that and come back better next year.”

Calhoun County Match Play Championship

Buddy Moore Bracket
No. 1 Gary Wigington vs. No. 16 Jeff Borrelli
No. 8 Matt Rogers vs. No. 9 Scott Martin
No. 13 Billy Thompson def. No. 4 Grant Hockman, 2 & 1
No. 5 Jaylon Ellison def. No. 12 Lance Evans, 2 & 1

Chris Banister Bracket
No. 2 Ty Cole vs. No. 15 Clay Calkins
No. 7 Adrian Geeting vs. No. 10 Andrew Brooks
No. 3 Jeremy McGatha vs. No. 14 Nick Pollard
No. 6 Ott Chandler vs. No. 11 Daniel Black

ON THE WEBB: White Plains fifth-grader Baylie Webb finished ninth in her age division in the second stage of the Drive, Chip and Putt Competition at the Smyrna (Tenn.) Municipal Golf Course.

“The driver let us down, but it was a great experience,” Baylie’s father Derek said. “She’s a little disappointed, but it’s a good character builder.”

ALL ABOUT CONFIDENCE: Dennis Reaves rode the confidence he developed with his new set of irons to shoot 4-under-par 68 and win the Taylor Made Senior Classic at Pine Hill by four shots over Doug Bragg and Norris Ray. Reaves made six birdies in the round.

Jerry Cobb won a scorecard playoff for the second flight (77). Pete Adams (82) won the third flight.

Cameron McCareeth, Phil Griguhn, Cory Etter and Dustin Travis teamed for an 18-under-par 54 and won the Wounded Warrior Fund scramble in a scorecard playoff. Ernie Combs, Greg Rainey, Jim Tyson and Bob Hollingsworth won a three-way playoff for the second flight (60).

TaylorMade Senior Classic
At Pine Hill CC

First flight: 1. Dennis Reaves 68, 2. Doug Bragg 70, 3. Norris Ray 70
Second flight: 1. Jerry Cobb (77), 2. Buddy Eiland (77), 3. Ted Nothdurft (77).
Third flight: 1. Pete Adams (82), 2. Donnie Ford (83), 3. Jim Thomas (83).
Closest to the pin: Lee Roy Jones (No. 3), Doug Bragg (Nos. 4 & 16), Nick Burkardt (No. 14).

Wounded Warrior Fund Scramble
At Pine Hill CC

First flight
54 — Cameron McCareeth, Phil Grighun, Cory Etter, Dustin Travis
54 – Dennis Austin, Tony Hicks, Scott Watson, Doug Bragg
55 – Nick Pollard, Jake Goggans, Jaren Humphries, Terry Cobb

Second flight
60 – Ernie Combs, Greg Rainey, Jim Tyson, Bob Hollingsworth
60 – Robbie Robertson, Randall Doss, David Merrill, Rickey Hurst
60 – David Stephens, Eddy Coefield, Grady Sapp, Rufus T. Raspberry
Closest to the pin: Jerry Cobb (No. 3), Dennis Austin (No. 16).

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