SPRINGDALE — A rare playoff hole was required to crown a winner at the 79th Annual Dwight Collins Chick-A-Tee Invitational on Sunday evening.
The one playoff hole was all Bryon Shumate needed to earn his first tournament title. Former University of Arkansas, Fayetteville golfer Josh Farrell sent his tee shot on the par-4 9th out of bounds, giving way to Shumate. Two approaches and a putt later, Shumate carded bogey to claim first place.
79th Annual Dwight Collins Chick-A-Tee Invitational
WHERE Springdale Country Club
Final Round Results
Championship Flight
Bryon Shumate^139^70^–^209*
Josh Farrell^139^70^–^209
Brett Granata^142^69^–^211
Steven Dixon^141^71^–^212
Matt Willmott^138^75^–^213
Jacob Bartel^136^78^–^214
Michael Chaney^144^74^–^218
First Flight
Chris Collins^147^68^–^215
Bucky Graham^146^70^–^216
Drew Stewart^147^72^–^219
JD Lindsey^148^73^–^221
Matt Dura^145^77^–^222
Phil Ford^147^76^–^222
Clark Greenhaw^148^75^–^223
Brad Norwood^148^75^–^223
Marc Levin^151^75^–^226
Second Flight
Creighton Parker^153^71^–^224
John Robinson III^156^72^–^228
Rob Costner^154^76^–^230
Matt Wait^155^76^–^231
Adam Ruff^157^75^–^232
Third Flight
Stan Stockton^160^78^–^238
Randy Jones^164^77^–^241
Todd Fraley^163^78^–^241
Ron Syler^164^79^–^243
Fourth Flight
James Jech^168^74^–^242
Sean Barrows^167^81^–^248
Johnny Lea^170^79^–^249
Jerry Triska^170^80^–^250
Patrick Blaylock^168^83^–^251
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Shumate, who received an brief ovation from onlookers standing outside the clubhouse after the win. “(Farrell) hit his first shot out of bounds, so that kind of changed my game plan. Then I was just playing for a 4, maybe a 5 at worst. I was just kind of advancing it. I just did what I had to do.”
Farrell and Shumate went shot for shot a majority of the day. On the back nine, Farrell pushed the round to a playoff by sinking a birdie on the par-4 18th. Shumate, needing par to secure the win, saw a 5-footer lip out, giving Farrell new life.
“We had a good match all day,” Shumate said. “He played good. On 18, he hit one within two inches, and I made bogey. It was fun to play with him; he’s a great guy.”
Trouble then set in for Farrell on 14 as a triple-bogey pushed him to two-over. But he quickly rebounded with birdie on 16 and 17. Meanwhile, Shumate looked to be cruising early in the front half of his round, carding birdie on the 12th and par-3 13th, but he admittedly got a bit jittery after back-to-back bogeys on 3 and 4.
“Friday was easy. I shot four-under and should have been a lot lower,” Shumate said. “(Saturday) was a grind. I didn’t play very well, and then today I was going along easy until midway through the back end.”
Farrell said he enjoyed his weekend as a whole. The par-4 14th — his only hole over-par — was his lone hiccup over three days. Otherwise, he left pleased with his game.
“Overall, if you’d told me I’d come up here and through 51 holes I’d be 15-under par, I’d have probably taken it,” Farrell said. “(Shumate) played great, and we had fun today.”
Defending champion Brett Granata finished third for the weekend, shooting a three-under 69 Sunday. Jacob Bartel, who carried a two-shot lead into the final round, was six-over in his final round. Matt Willmott shot three-over 75.
Barring a scheduling conflict next year, Shumate said he hopes to defend his title in 2018.
Sports on 06/19/2017
