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Raleigh, NC -
Ray Mann and
George James posted 74s to hold the lead
after Saturday's Round and with seven
golfers within 7 strokes of the lead, the
stage was set for a shootout on Sunday.
As the story unfold on Sunday, it looked
like the only fireworks that were going to
be supplied were by Ray. He birdied
three out of the first seven holes against a
single bogey on his way to posting 2-under
par 34 on the front nine. On the other
end of the spectrum, George saw his chances
quickly faded as he bogeyed five out his
first six holes on his way to posting a 44
on the front nine. Mike Jones' fate
was similar, despite posting seven pars
against two bogeys as he dropped five stokes
off the pace, after posting a 38 on the
front nine. Rob Slade also watched
the lead grow as he rattled off six straight
pars before making a bogey and double bogey
to post a 39 on the front nine.
With nine holes left to play, it appeared
that all Ray needed to do was put it on
cruise control, but a pair of triple bogeys
on the 12th and 13th holes opened the door.
Four straight pars allowed Mike to hang
around just long enough to take advantage of
Ray's stumble. Mike held a very
unexpected 2-stroke lead going into 15th
hole. Ray regained the lead with a
series of pars of his own as Mike double
bogeyed the par 3 15th and bogeyed the par 4
16th. The late developing back and
forth battle between Ray and Mike came down to
the final hole, with Ray holding a one
stroke lead over Mike, as they stood on the
453 yard par 5 18th. Mike hooked his
tee shot into deep brush and had to take an
unplayable, giving Ray enough breathing room
to play the final hole aggressively.
Which is exactly what he did, hitting a
solid drive, setting up an approach shot
that left him with an easy up and down for
birdie. Mike went on the bogey the
final hole to secure the
runner-up spot. George finished strong
with an eagle on the final hole and a back
nine of even par 36 thanks to making the short putt
that was setup by a 205 yard
5-iron that settle just 2½ feet from the
hole. The tournaments' only
eagle was too little too late as Saturday's
Co-leader had to settle for a tie for 3rd
with Rob, who also lost ground despite
birdying the final hole and posting 38 on
the back nine.
The win is Ray's 3rd Career Win on the Bogey
Cup Tour. |