By BILL BURRUS
Sports Editor
Josh Lampley found a way to survive a tough stretch and find his swing down the stretch.
After a 1-over front nine, the Gulfport golfer finally found his groove on the par-5 12th hole with a birdie. That sparked a strong finish of three birdies in the final four holes en route to a 2-under-par 70 — giving him a two-shot victory in the 72nd annual Greenwood Country Club Invitational Sunday with a three-day total of -14.
It was his second victory in Greenwood in three years for Lampley, a two-time Mississippi Mid Amateur champion. He beat defending champion Joel Myrick by two shots after they started the day tied atop the leaderboard.
“It’s pretty cool to win this one twice because it’s always a tough field to contend with here,” said Lampley. “I was struggling pretty good, but my short game saved me. I had to get up and down for par on 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11 before I finally made a good swing at 12 and walked away with a birdie to get me going” he said.
The two-horse race took a big turn on the par-4 15th hole when Lampley made birdie from about two feet, and Myrick failed to get up and down from the left side of the green.
Both made birdie at the par-5 16th, and then Lampley slightly opened the door for Myrick with a bogey from behind the 17th green — leaving Lampley with a two-shot cushion heading into the final hole.
Both players made birdie at the par-5 18th as Lampley claimed his second GCC Invitational crown in the last three years.
Myrick finished at even-par 72 with five bogeys on the day. He only had two bogeys in the opening round when he carded a sizzling 62.
Myrick, a former Southern Miss golfer who lives in Hattiesburg, was trying to become just the ninth golfer to win the GCC Invitational in back-to-back years in 72-year history of the tradition-rich tournament, one of the state’s oldest stroke-play events. The last to do so was Josh Oller in 2007 and 2008.
Justin Elliott of Hattiesburg took third at -7 after shooting 72 in the final round, while Steve Wilson of Gautier shot 69 to take fourth, eight shots back of the winner.
For the tournament, Lampley was 13-under on the par-5s. He made 18 birdies in three days with just six bogeys. Myrick was 12-under on the par-5s with three eagles — all three of which came in the first two rounds.
On a local note, Michael Naaman had the best overall finish (73-68-77) of any GCC members and finished in a tie for 18th.
Mark Singleton of Greenwood made a birdie at the par-4 15th hole all three days.
