McKinney reaches semifinals

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: September 22, 2015

Youngest player in the field sweeps four holes in The Hollow, will play Billy Thompson in County Match Play

Caleb McKinney blasts out of a bunker on No. 6 during his match with Dalton Chandler Tuesday. McKinney won the hole to take a 2-up lead.

By East Alabama Sports Today

The four holes that play across the street from the Cane Creek clubhouse is one of Caleb McKinney’s favorite stretches when he’s playing well and he used it to his advantage Tuesday.

McKinney won all four holes in The Hollow and came back across the street to close out Dalton Chandler 5&4 to reach the semifinals of the Calhoun County Match Play Championship.

He will play Billy Thompson for a spot in the finals.

In a match between the two youngest players in the field, McKinney — the youngest (19) — held a 1 up lead at the turn. He then won 10, 11, 12 and 13 to take command.

The players came back across the road and halved 14 to close out the match.

“That is a good stretch for me usually when I’m hitting the tee ball good because it’s the most demanding part of the course as far as the tee ball goes,” McKinney said.

He chipped in for birdie from behind the green for birdie on 13 after Chandler made a nice par from the right trees.

“Even though we had one hole left I felt like that shot won me the match just because it was a real boost to see a birdie fall after coming so close all day,” he said.

Chandler, 20, never led in the match, but made several nice recovery shots to stay in holes. He cut his decifit to 1-down with a birdie on No. 8.

“I just played bad,” he said.

LINDSEY, EVANS CLOSE STRONG: Oxford’s John Lindsey had to readjust his goals when he got bumped up a flight in the Golf Channel Am Tour national championship. He adjusted and met it.

Lindsey wanted a top 25 finish in the Jones Flight and wound up tied for 17th after a final-round 89 Tuesday on the Nicklaus Tournament course at PGA West. He finished at 367 for the four rounds.

“I know I can not play conservative; the last couple of days I just played,” he said. “The only time I got in trouble is when I tired to play conservative.”

Lance Evans, the other Oxford golfer in the field, posted the best score in his two appearances. He shot a 3-under 69, passed a bunch of players and finished tied for 28th. He hit 13 fairways, 17 greens, had five birdies and two bogeys.

“It was fun today,” he said. “I’m glad to play a good round the last time I play golf in California.

“I went out with the same approach I had for the last three days, but the difference was I hit my irons a little better, my wedges good. There wasn’t much to go wrong today.”

When the pair get back to Anniston Wednesday, Evans will start working on the GC Am Tour events he’s organizing at Anniston CC (Oct. 10) and Silver Lakes (Oct. 11). To get involved call Evans at 452-2900 or check out the GC Am Tour website.

COUNTY SENIOR PPD: The Calhoun County Senior Championship that had been scheduled for Thursday and Friday at Pine Hill Country Club has been postponed due to scheduling conflicts.

The event will be rescheduled and the new date announced at a later time.

TAKING TEAMS: Tournament organizers are still accepting teams for Saturday’s Justin Sollohub Memorial Classic at Pine Hill. Call the pro shop (237-2633) for details.

CALHOUN COUNTY MATCH PLAY
Buddy Moore Bracket
Ty Cole (1) def. Daniel Black (16), WD
Billy Thompson (8) def. Ott Chandler (9), 3&2
Caleb McKinney (5) def. Andrew Brooks (12), 2 up
Dalton Chandler (4) def. Lance Evans (13), 4&2
Chris Banister Bracket
Jeremy McGatha (3) def. Jake Goggans (14), 21 holes
Kevin Daugherty (6) def. Matt Rogers (11), 5&4
Clay Calkins (7) def. Adrian Geeting (10), 5&3
Gary Wigington (2) def. Dan Griffin (15), 6&4

Second round matches
Thompson def. Cole, WD
McKinney def. D. Chandler, 5&4
McGatha vs. Daugherty
Wigington def. Calkins, 4&3

Semifinals
Thompson vs. McKinney
McGatha-Daugherty winner vs. Wigington

Championship
Thompson-McKinney winner vs. McGatha/Daugherty-Wigington winner