Tallahassee, Fla – Will Davenport and TJ Shuart handled the heat and challenging golf course this weekend to take home the 74th Four-Ball Championship at Seminole Legacy Golf Club.
The 74th Four-Ball began on Saturday morning in Tallahassee with 52 teams fighting to etch their name on the Four-Ball trophy. Heat advisories were issued for the weekend and winds were down, adding a physical test ahead to the test of golf that was already in front of the players.
Seminole Legacy Golf Club, home the Florida State Seminole’s golf teams, provides a test of golf unique to most players residing in the state of Florida. Elevation change, thick rough transitioned into long bahia grass, and a layout that can be stretched as long as you desire are just a few of the characteristics making it a great championship test. The club has played host to the Boys’ and Girls’ Junior Championships in the past, but this was the first appearance on the Men’s state championship schedule, and it delivered.
A slow start to Saturday morning left the lead wavering around 3 or 4 under for most of the early part of the day. Davenport and Shuart, teeing off near the end of the field, started hot on the more difficult back 9, birdieing 11, 12, and 16 to turn at 3-under. Birdies at 3, 6, and 7 and a lonely bogey on the scorecard at 5 would leave them at 5-under for the Championship after Round 1. Nick Strickler and James Preston had the round of the day playing in the group behind Davenport & Shuart, with an 8-under 64 that included 9 birdies and a bogey.
Round 2 on Sunday had a number of teams in contention and vying for the lead throughout the day. Ty Wehrs and Dylan Vause, both employees at Seminole Legacy, had the round of the day out early with an 8-under 64 and shot up the leaderboard 19 spots, eventually finishing in a tie for 5th and earning in exemption into next years’ championship. Defending champions Cooper Smith and Austin Cherichella made a run of their own, with eagles at 1 & 11 and birdies 6, 7 & 10 pushing themselves into a tie for the lead. Bogeys at 14 & 16 would eventually lead them to a T5 finish.
It was Davenport & Shuart who separated themselves from the pack in the middle of the round with four birdies in a row on a difficult stretch from 10 through 13, putting them three clear of the field. Pars at four of the remaining five holes was enough, en route to their 1-shot victory. Preston & Strickler had a chance to force a playoff on 18, but fell one short for solo second, as both players missed their birdie putts.
