It would have been understandable if Ethan Day was battling some nerves leading into Sunday’s final round of the North Georgia Invitational.
Sharing the tee box with him in the final grouping of the Championship Flight was a veritable legend in Georgia amateur golf circles, David Noll Jr., a 10-time Georgia State Golf Association Men’s Player of the Year and a 2020 inductee into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame.
Conversely, Day is on the front end of his amateur career having only recently completed his college years at the University of North Georgia. With both golfers competing on their home course at Dalton Golf and Country Club, it was a compelling confluence of an accomplished veteran squaring off against a rising star.
But there was another long-time member of DGCC that was playing five groups ahead of them as part of the Championship B Flight that stole the show. Toby Geren compiled a masterful round of 66 that included birdies on his last two holes to capture the overall crown with a 7-under 137 to defeat Day by one shot.
Geren coupled an eagle on the par 5 4th with eight pars to make the turn in 34, then rallied to a 32 on his closing nine that featured birdies at 10, 12, 15, 17 and 18. Safely in the clubhouse with the lead, Geren then had to wait and see if anyone could better his performance.
Leading by three strokes entering the round, Day moved to 7-under after birdies at 7 and 8. But a bogey at 9 and another at 17 left him needing an eagle on the final hole to force a playoff, but he had to settle for a birdie to shoot 70 on the day and 6-under 138 for the tournament.
Brandon Cissom carded a 69 on Sunday to finish third at even par 144, two shots ahead of Noll Jr. and Wes Farris who placed fourth with scores of 2-over 146.
Vance Embry and Samuel Johnson tied for sixth at 3-over 147, and four golfers were deadlocked in eighth at 4-over 148 including Lucas Nations, Seth Brandon, Hayden Maxwell and Landon Wells.
In the Senior competition, Hal Lamb of The Farm Golf Club cruised to an eight-shot win by posting a final round 70 that led to a two-day total of 6-under 138.
Starting his round at No. 10, Lamb opened with a 38 to give some hope to his competitors. But four birdies over his final five holes slammed the door on the convincing victory.
Richard Keene finished second at 2-over 146 after signing for a pair of 73s over the weekend, while Donny Phillips placed third at 6-over 150. The trio of Neill Hatcher, Brian Millican and Gary Davis tied for fourth at 12-over 156.
Tom Baird of Chattanooga Golf and Country Club managed to hold onto his first-round lead to win the Super Senior division by four strokes. Baird carded a 76 on Sunday to finish at 2-over 146.
Richard Brame was runner-up at 6-over 150, while Bret Douglas finished third at 7-over 151, Bradley Virgil was fourth at 8-over 152, and Robert Smith came in fifth at 10-over 154.
For complete results, go to N. Georgia Invitational.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com