Columbus' Jared Garrity Wins Georgia Open August 9, 2006
An exciting finish to the final round of the 53rd Your Community PhoneBook Georgia Open was not quite finished after 18 holes. Jared Garrity of Columbus needed an extra hole to slam the cover on a fantastic week of golf at Reynolds Landing on Lake Oconee and take home the $10,000 first prize and see his name on the most coveted trophy in Georgia golf. Jared Garrity accepts his first place check from Mac McCausland of Your Community PhoneBook
Garrity started the day five shots back of third round leader Jay McLuen of Danielsville, but played steady golf and finished with a 3-under 69 to take the clubhouse lead at 10-under. McLuen, playing in the final group had a chance on the par-4 18th to win the tournament outright with a 30-foot birdie putt that slid just by to force the playoff. Peachtree City’s Dave Schreyer, the 1996 and 2001 Georgia Open Champion had a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole to get into the playoff, but just missed and settled for a tie for third. Champion Jared Garrity with the Georgia State Open Championship trophy Garrity and McLuen proceed to the ninth hole for the playoff and it did not take long to decide the winner. Both players missed the green with Garrity hole high just right of the green. McLuen hit his approach about 15 yards past the hole on the fringe. McLuen putted down the slope of the green to two feet and waited as Garrity hung his 18-foot putt on the edge of the hole and watched as it dropped to claim his first professional 72-hole tournament victory with rounds of 72-67-70-69 - 278. Finishing tied with Schreyer in third at 9-under 279 were low PGA Professionals Stephen Keppler of Marietta and Sonny Skinner of Sylvester. Perry’s Jon David Kennedy and PGA Professional Jeff Hull finished tied for 6th at 8-under 280. Rounding out the top 10 in a tie for 8th was the trio of Greg Lee of Athens, David Robinson of Sandersville and Murrayville’s Josh Bunch all at 7-under 281. Low Amateur honors went to the reigning State Amateur champion Bill Brown of Dublin. Brown recently won the GSGA’s Amateur Championship at Coosa Country Club. Jamie Bowen of Dawsonville finished second in the Low Amateur division at 4-under 284. Defending Champion Tim Conley of Braselton finished tied for 57th at 13-over 301. The low round of the day belonged Christopher Nicol of Kennesaw with a 6-under 66. |