The leaderboard in the Open Division at the 20th Annual Cleveland Invitational was crowded with a handful of golfers who shared one thing in common on Sunday afternoon. Most of them were current or former Lee University golfers, so there was no distinct home-course advantage at the Cleveland Country Club layout.
Dylan Lillard, who finished his career at Lee in 2020 and captured this event in 2017, held off a late charge to win with a final score of 8-under 136. He closed with a 70 on Sunday, backing up the 66 he posted in the opening round.
Lillard won by one shot over another former Flame. Hunter Vest, who was an NAIA All-American and former assistant golf coach at Lee, finished tied for second with Josh Ernest at 7-under 137. Vest was hoping to add to his title won in this event in 2015.
Lillard was seemingly in control cruising toward a comfortable victory, owning a five-shot lead with six holes to play. But both Vest and Ernest staged late comebacks to make things interesting.
Three straight birdies by Vest staring at No. 13 closed to gap to two shots, and a bogey by Lillard at No. 17 trimmed the margin to a single stroke with Ernest already in the clubhouse at 7-under.
Ernest had eagled No. 14 and tallied birdies at 12, 15 and 18, but a costly bogey on No. 16 left him one shot back.
But Lillard remained steadfast on the final hole, recording a par to claim the title while Vest also had to settle for par.
Defending champion and Lee senior Oliver Lewis-Perkins put together a tidy round of 67 to finish fourth at 5-under 139. Two other Lee golfers – Noah Ross at 4-under 140 and Bennett McNabb at 3-under 141 – claimed the next two spots to place fifth and sixth, respectively.
Richard Keene added to his lengthy resume’ of championships, winning the Senior division in a playoff over Zeb Patten.
Both golfers finished at 5-under 139, then managed to get up and down for pars on the opening playoff hole contested on the par 5 first. Keene then bested Patten with a par on No. 2 to claim another title in this event.
Patten trailed by a pair of shots at the turn, but birdies on Nos. 12 and 14 brought him even as Keene completed the back side with nine pars.
Jay Potter finished third at 4-under 140 after shooting Sunday’s low round of 67, narrowly missing the playoff when he carded a bogey at No. 17.
Shonn Weldon’s 2-under 142 put him in fourth, two shots ahead of Tom Schreiner who posted a score of 144 to finish even.
Richard Brame was crowned the Super Senior winner, recording consecutive rounds to 72 to close at 144 which was six shots clear of Tony Autry.
The next event on the Chattanooga District Golf Association calendar is the Signal Mountain Invitational slated for May 17-19.
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Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com