Grant wins Willow Point championship by four

Rob Stock

Published Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Some bogeys are better than others.

Leading the Willow Point club championship by four strokes, Walker Grant hooked his tee shot on the par-4 16th hole into the fescue grass and had to take an unplayable lie. But instead of making a double bogey or worse, Grant laced a 5-iron from 198 yards to 15 feet and made the bogey putt, keeping his comfortable cushion.

Grant cruised in from there, winning the men’s club championship for the second time in five years. His rounds of 74-67 gave him a four-shot victory over defending champion Cole McInnis and Solly Foy.

“It was a good bogey,” said Grant. “Making a big score would have given Solly a better chance. It could have been a big swing.”

Grant’s bogey was the only blemish on his card for the final round. His wedge game was razor sharp, leading to birdies at Nos. 3, 5, 6, 10, 12 and 18. All of those approach shots finished six feet or closer to the hole.

Winning the tournament in 2009 was extra special for Grant because it is the final year of running the tournament for Willow Point Director of Golf Steve Lyles.

“It means a lot because it was Steve’s last year,” Grant said. “It was also nice not to finish second again.”

Grant has finished second five times in the event.

McInnis’ second-place finish was a result of a spectacular final-round 66. McInnis, who has won the event 14 times, birdied seven of his first 11 holes but could only birdie one of the final seven.

“I was pleased,” McInnis said after the final round. “I played real well today.”

McInnis would have been closer to the leaders going into the final round but he made an 8 on the par-3 11th hole during the first round.

Nolen Lamberth finished fourth with a four-over total of 148.

In the senior division, Frank Burns made up a three-shot deficit to defeat defending champion Mel Long. Burns scrambled his way to a final round of 77 for a nine-over-par 151 total.

Burns’ round included a great chip on No. 18 that allowed him to save par after taking a penalty stroke for an unplayable lie.

“It really feels good,” said Burns, who also won the championship in 2002. “I did not think that I would be able to catch Mel.”

Other flight winners included Steve Forehand, Billy Harrison, Bill Harrell and Tommy Keene.

Championship Division

Championship Flight

Walker Grant 74-67-141

Cole McInnish 79-66-145

Solly Foy 72-73-145

Nolen Lamberth 72-76-148

Thomas Radney 78-71-149

Scott Henderson 76-74-150

Ted Sartin 73-79-152

Randy Hunt 74-80-154

Championship First Flight

Billy Harrison 78-79-157

Austin Robinson 81-77-158

Dwayne Dark 81-79-160

Tommy Riggins 82-79-161

Tom Lamberth 81-82-163

Richard Kerr 83-83-166

Regular Division

First Flight

Bill Harrell 71-77-148

Eddie Adair 74-75-149

Phil Currie 78-77-155

George Nolen 76-81-157

Ron Gaiser 78-80-158

Paul Currie 77-82-159

Billy Templin 80-84-164

Joe Luttrell 84-83-167

Second Flight

Steve Forehad 85-72-157

Hamilton Pounds 87-78-165

Gene Gwaltney 83-82-165

Mark A. Treadwell 87-80-167

Allan Cutts 89-88-177

Chris Holt 89-92-181

Roger Holliday 96-94-190

Senior Division

Championship Flight

Frank Burns 74-77-151

Mel Long 71-83-154

Charlie Nowlin 82-74-156

Kip Porter 77-80-157

Walter Monroe 78-84-162

Russ Maddox 86-86-172

First Flight

Tommy Keene 88-81-169

Bill Richardson 87-84-171

Royce Watkins 97-97-194

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