Published: Monday, July 30, 2012 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, July 30, 2012 at 12:28 a.m.
TUSCALOOSA | After storming to a 10-stroke lead after two rounds in the Open Division of the Alabama Open Conner Godsey was the talk of the clubhouse at Ol? Colony Golf Complex.
?I don?t know what course he?s playing to shoot a 67,? one competitor said after his first of two consecutive 67s to open the tournament.
?He didn?t miss a single shot,? said another golfer.
In Sunday?s Senior Division, Rea Schuessler stole the show by coming back from a two-stroke deficit with three straight birdies in the final four holes to win by two over the leader coming into the final round, Ricky Smallridge.
Smallridge opened the way for Schuessler after missing a two-foot birdie putt on No. 10, then making bogey on the next three holes.
Schuessler knew time was running out if he was going to make the move to win.
?You feel anxious all day,? Schuessler said. ?But, on the last few holes, sure, you get nervous and start to tell yourself to stay calm.?
Schuessler was strong in the pressure, saving one of his best shots of the round for the toughest par-3 on the course, No. 17.
?I was fortunate to hit it to about five feet (from the hole) on 17,? Schuessler said. ?That gave me a two-shot cushion going into 18, which was nice because anything can happen on 18.?
Schuessler also knew his opponent could strike at any time.
?Ricky?s got a great resume. I knew he wasn?t going anywhere,? he said.
Smallridge had pressure of his own, trying to hold the lead while witnessing Schuessler?s late-round heroics.
?I knew I had to try and match him,? Smallridge said. ?I had birdie putts, but they were outside of what you?d consider legitimate makeable putts. I wanted to get under par so he had to shoot a 69 or 68, but I didn?t get under par and he shot a 68 anyway. He earned it, deserved it, took it, whatever adjective you want to use.?
Godsey won the Open Division despite slipping from his first and second round score of 67 to a final round of 73.
?I put some good rolls on putts, they just didn?t go in,? Godsey said. I didn?t hit many bad shots, I just didn?t hit many close shots.?
After playing the front nine at 5-under the first two rounds Godsey played the same nine holes at 2-over Sunday, making for the only nine-hole stretch in which he failed to make a birdie.
Godsey now has his second win of the summer, taking the TP Country Club Men?s Invitational in Cullman in early June.
Godsey looks forward to carrying the momentum from his strong summer into his first season as a golfer for Montevallo, after completing two seasons for Wallace State Community College.
?I like to think about the positives,? Godsey said while taking a quick glance at his new trophy.
Source: http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20120730/news/120739999
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