Vidrine’s Birdie Streak Leads To Brainerd Invitational Title

The stroll off the 18^th green at Brainerd Golf Course was much more enjoyable on Sunday for Keoni Vidrine than what he experienced last year.

Vidrine recorded five straight birdies on his closing nine holes to distance himself from his other competitors in the final round of the 79^th Brainerd Invitational, shooting 7-under 65 to win by three shots with a final tally of 13-under 131.

It was Vidrine’s second time to win the Championship Division of this event in the past three years. He came agonizingly close to making it a three-peat, halted by a bogey on 17 and a three-putt par at 18 in last year’s tournament that left him one shot behind winner Mike Dunn.

“I guess you could say this year was the complete opposite,” Vidrine said. “Last year was very disappointing, to say the least. That summed up how all my tournaments went because I just couldn’t putt. This weekend was different because I made a lot of putts.”

Vidrine opened Sunday’s play one shot behind Chris Wells, and that margin swelled to two shots after a rather pedestrian front nine that featured eight pars and a lone birdie. But the former Tennessee Wesleyan golfer caught fire at No. 11 to open his birdie binge over the next five holes to move to 12-under, two shots clear of Wells.

But Vidrine’s streak didn’t come solely from finding comfort using a putter he borrowed last weekend from fellow golfer Cody Godfrey. It was also due to some freehand artistry drawn on his golf ball by his girlfriend, Lyndon.

“I couldn't really buy a putt early. Then on 10 I had a mark on my ball from hitting the cart path, and so my girlfriend was with me, and she drew on my golf ball,” Vidrine said. “She's been begging me to decorate them. So, she drew a smiley face with a tongue hanging out and a bunch of other random goofy stuff. I was like, ‘I'll try it.’ And then I just made everything for the next five holes.”

Vidrine normally marks his ball with a simple smiley face, but he found some magic when rolling the one with Lyndon’s artwork.

“After I made the third one in a row, I looked at her and said, ‘I don't want to say it, but I’ve only made birdies with your golf ball’. Then I made two more. It was just so funny. It completely changed my mood,” Vidrine said.

The victory is Vidrine’s second on the season in Chattanooga District Golf Association events, having earlier won the Signal Mountain Invitational.

Wells wasn’t able to replicate the 65 he shot on Saturday, finishing with a 69 on Sunday that included five birdies and two bogeys to close the tournament at 10-under 134.

Also surging into a tie for 2^nd was Taylor Lewis, whose score of 29 over his final nine holes was highlighted with an eagle and five birdies. Lewis shot 7-under 65 for the day, joining Wells at 10-under 134.

Three golfers – Gavin Greeson, Jay Potter and Drew Silman – tied for 4^th at 8-under 136.

Greeson rode the strength of shooting 31 over his final nine holes to post an 8-under 64, finishing his bogey-free round with six birdies and an eagle at the par 5 13^th hole.

Potter, last year’s Senior champion who opted to compete among the Championship Division this year, birdied three straight holes on his opening nine, finishing the day with a clean scorecard that featured seven birdies on his way to carding a 7-under 65.

Silman closed with birdies on three of his last four holes to post his second consecutive round of 68.

Brandon Cissom and Alex Cobb tied for 7^th at 7-under 137, one better than Ryan Cox at 6-under 138 for solo 9^th.

Vidrine was the 39 & Under Flight winner, while Lewis and Wells tied for the low honors in the 40-54 Flight. Potter captured the 55 & Over Flight prize.

Eachus Wins Senior Title in Playoff

Tim Eachus captured the Senior Division on the second hole of a playoff against Jeff Cox, securing the victory with a par on hole 11. But the likelihood of needing extra holes seemed improbable just an hour earlier.

Eachus, a Council Fire Club member, rode a hot putter to birdie six of nine holes starting at No. 4, resulting in a four-shot advantage with only six holes remaining.

But Cox capitalized on a pair of Eachus bogeys at 13 and 14 to stage a valiant comeback. His charge was highlighted by an eagle on the 490-yard par 5 13^th and punctuated with a clutch birdie at 18 to force a playoff as both golfers finished at 4-under 140.

Eachus closed with a round of 69 on Sunday that included four straight pars after his pair of bogeys. Cox posted his second straight 70 that featured a trio of both bogeys and birdies along with his pivotal eagle.

Johnny Pierce finished 3rd after consecutive rounds of 72, his even par 144 leaving him four shots off the leaders.

Rob Smith, whose opening round 69 led the field after the first day, was among a group of five golfers at 3-over 147 after closing with a 78. Others tied with Smith in a tie for 4^th were Paul Fuzzard, Richard Brame, Michael Rhyne and Tim Brown.

Rhyne Claims Super Senior Flight

Mike Rhyne birdied No. 12 on the third playoff hole to win the Super Senior Flight after completing play tied with three others at 3-over 147.

Rob Smith led by one shot before Rhyne, Richard Brame and Tim Brown all managed birdies at 18 to force the four-way playoff. Brown was able to make up seven shots on the day after shooting 71, while Rhyne carded a 75, Brame shot 73, and Smith posted a 78.

John Lambert was in solo 5^th place after posting a score of 5-over 149.

For complete results, go to Brainerd Invitational.

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com