By Staff
GOING FOR THE PIN n Randy Poole hits his approach shot to the 14th green at Northwood County Club Saturday during the annual Spring Four-Ball tournament. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Richard Dark/The Meridian Star
April 30, 2001
The tight three-way race for the Northwood Spring Four-Ball title continued in the final round Sunday, and in the end, it was putting prowess that settled the issue.
The tandem of Joey Mabry and Tony Polizzi captured the 2001 Northwood Spring Four-Ball Tournament with a two-day total of 130, an impressive 12-under par.
The team comprised of District Attorney Bilbo Mitchell and Asst. D.A. Dan Angero finished second with a 66, an 11-under tally.
The duo seemed to be in the driver's seat after an eagle on the 16th hole, but Mabry and Polizzi overcame their only bogey of the day on 15 to make birdie on the final three holes and take the tourney.
Polizzi sank a 30-foot putt on No. 17 to forge a tie with Angero and Mitchell.
On 18, Mabry's approach shot from 70 yards out rolled to within inches of the cup, after Angero and Mitchell got up and down in four.
Mabry said going into Sunday's play that the teams of Angero and Mitchell along with Judge Little and Scott Morgan two teams that were in the three-way tie had the inside track because they were more familiar with the course.
But just as Mabry and Polizzi lived by the short game, it was the undoing for the others.
Morgan and Little came in third with a 69 (-9), collecting no bogeys and birdeying the final two holes.
Angero barely missed taking four-ball titles on back-to-back weekends, with the par on 18. He agreed that the day came down to a getting it done on the green.
Angero attributed the tough day to difficult pin placements. "They were in positions that we don't normally see and that probably had a lot to do with it," he said. "Some of them were pretty tough to get to."
First place prize in each flight was $500. Second and third place paid $300 and $150.
Richard Dark is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. You can call him at 693-1551, ext. 3234 or e-mail him at rdark@themeridianstar.com.