Centre of attention
- Updated: August 9, 2015
[corner-ad id=2]Defending champion Minnix repeats as Cherokee County CC winner, beats close friend on 18; Johnson wins Cider Ridge crown
By East Alabama Sports Today
CENTRE – Nobody knows what the future holds, but if this indeed was Jake Minnix’ last run at the Cherokee County Country Club club championship, he went out on top after taking down a player in the final whose game he knows as well as his own.
Minnix, the defending champion, made a four-foot par putt on the 18th hole after longtime two-man partner Lee Morgan lipped out a 12-footer to win 1 up and claim the club championship Sunday.
With him getting married in October and moving to Albertville, it might be Minnix’ last chance to win Cherokee County CC club champion honors for a while.
“It makes it more special, going out on top winning two in a row,” Minnix said. “I didn’t think about that during the match at all, (but) it’s definitely good to look back on. I told Lee after the match I won’t let you forget this for a few years.”
There couldn’t have been a closer matchup for the finals. The two have been partners in club tournaments and other two-man events for years. They’re best friends, their dads are best friends, their wives are best friends.
“I know Lee’s game as good as anybody; I knew what I was getting when he stepped up there,” Minnix said. “We pretty much knew the shots each other were going to hit.”
He then proceeded to run through several situations where Morgan hit an errant shot off the tee and he predicted his opponent would hit his recovery shot close to the pin.
Minnix had a 2-up lead through 14, but Morgan won 15 with a par and ran in a 25-foot eagle putt on 16 to get all square after Minnix made a 30-footer for birdie. They halved 17 with pars.
On the deciding hole, Morgan found the trees off the tee and while he’s hit the green from a similar position earlier in the tournament his escape shot this time caught more trees and kicked into the fairway. He hit the green in 3 and lipped out his par putt. Minnix hit the green in 2, lagged his birdie putt and sank the four-footer to win.
“It means a lot to win just one; last year I had a lot of pressure just to win one,” Minnix said. “This year I didn’t feel any pressure at all.”
Johnson wins second Cider Ridge title
OXFORD — Jason Johnson shot a final-round 79 to complete a wire-to-wire win for the Cider Ridge club championship.
His two-day total 150 was two shots better than defending champion Daniel Black. Johnson won the 2011 club championship.
Chase Hollingsworth shot 74 and won the first flight by four shots over Timmy Woodard. Hollingsworth shot 150 for 36 holes.
David Messer shot 75 and won the senior flight by nine over Gary Austin. Messer shot 145 for two days.
CIDER RIDGE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Championship flight
Jason Johnson 71-79—150
Daniel Black 77-75—152
Tim Steward 73-81—154
Jake Goggans 75-80—155
Benji Turley 75-81—156
Frank Toland 74-83—157
First flight
Chase Hollingsworth 76-74—150
Timmy Woodard 85-69—154
Rich Etter 83-82—165
Cain Hollingsworth 91-87—178
Keaton Borrelli 97-100—197
Senior flight
David Messer 70-75—145
Gary Austin 76-78—154
Lamar Ward 77-81—158
Jerry Kemp 89-77—166
Ron Fleming 89-86—175
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