Alan Ellis has a complete stranglehold on the title of best golfer at Greenwood Country Club. And it’s a distinction the 33-year-old doesn’t plan on giving up anytime.
Ellis won his 12th club championship over the weekend with a two-day score of 10-under-par. Without a doubt his title ranks as his most memorable because Ellis got to share it with his 5-year-old son, Pittman Ellis, on Father’s Day. Also making the special day even better was having his father, George Ellis, supporting him during his round — leaving three generations of the Ellis family there for the celebration.
Ellis cruised to the victory, winning by 19 shots over Robert Pannell, who won the tournament in 2013.
When Ellis rolled in his birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole for a second straight 67, his young son ran out to greet him.
“It was pretty darn special to say the least,” Ellis said. “This is the first time for him to really understand what I won, and that’s special because he has fallen in love with golf.
“Pittman has been going to a summer golf camp, and he wants to play everyday.”
The symbolism in his shooting a pair of 67s wasn’t lost on Ellis since 67 was the jersey number worn by his late uncle, Kent Hull, a former star center with the Buffalo Bills.
“That was pretty cool,” he said. “I was cruising along at 6-under through 16 holes, then made a double-bogey at 17 and then got a birdie at 18 to shoot 67 for a second straight day. I would say it was just meant to be.”
With the Greenwood Invitational just around the corner, Ellis likes the way his golf game is coming together.
“Things are getting better, but I am still struggling to keep bogeys off my card. I had five bogeys and a double in two days but was able to offset them with 11 birdies and three eagles,” said Ellis, who won the Invitational in 2010 and 2014.
