Joel Myrick of Hattiesburg entered Sunday’s final round of the Greenwood Country Club Invitational with a one stroke lead. After one hole, he led by three strokes and never looked back — winning his first golf tournament since 2008.
The 33-year-old former USM golfer carded a 3-under-par 69 to finish 12 under, four shots ahead of two-time champion Alan Ellis of Greenwood.
For the father of three, his first win in years was special.
“I turned pro in 2007 and quit playing golf in 2009 after having my first child,” Myrick said. “My wife convinced me to start playing again after taking three years off, and I just started playing last year in tournaments again.
“To beat someone like Alan, who I remember playing against when I was at (Presbyterian Christian School) and he was at Pillow, is special.”
Myrick just missed an eagle putt on the par-5 first hole, but his birdie combined with a bogey by fellow Hattiesburg golfer Ben Snow gave Myrick a three-stroke lead. After he drained a 20-foot birdie putt on the 220-yard par-3 third hole and a 12- foot birdie putt on the par-4 fourth hole, Myrick’s lead had blossomed to five strokes.
Myrick’s shot of the day, though, was his tee ball on the 328-yard dogleg left par-4 ninth. Hitting driver, the USM product hit his shot on the green to give him an eagle putt. A two-putt from 20 feet put Myrick back to -12, where he stayed the rest of the way as he coasted to victory.
“I knew after my fast start I didn’t need to do anything special or dangerous to stay on top,” Myrick said. “I was suppose to be playing in the final group last year when the final day got rained out, and I have waited for a chance to win this tournament for a whole year.”
Ellis started the day in sixth place but leap-frogged a number of golfers to finish at 8-under in second place. Ellis’s score for all three days was consistent, shooting 70-69-69. But two holes Saturday may have been the difference between winning and coming in second.
Despite making a remarkable nine birdies in the second round Saturday, Ellis made 6 on the par-3 third hole and a 6 on the par-4 seventh hole.
“Number three was just one of those horrible holes that all golfers suffer through sometimes,” Ellis said. “I was left of the hole with my tee shot, then chipped to 10 feet from the hole on my second.
“And then I four-putted from 10 feet out for a triple bogey. It happens to the best of us I guess.”
Ellis, who was playing in only his first tournament of the year, said he was pleased with his performance overall.
“My driver was erratic like the first round, but I putted pretty well. I just couldn’t hit many greens and had to get a lot of up and downs.”
First-round leader Joseph Spinosa of Madison, who shot an opening-round 64 to lead at -8, finished Sunday with a 77 to leave him at -2.
Hayes Weathersby of Poplarville took third at 6 under, while defending champion Josh Lampley of Gulfport finished tied for fourth at -4.
Michael Naaman had the second-best showing among Greenwood players, finishing the tournament at +2.
