Straughn senior grabs top 5 finish at SJGT event

Brooks Rabren finished tied for second place at the 2014 TimberCreek Junior Classic in Spanish Fort on Sunday.

The Straughn senior went into a three-way playoff with eventual tournament winner Stephen Shephard of Niceville, Fla., who made eagle on the par-five, 535-yard 18th to claim the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour tournament.

Going into his final round, Rabren led the field after a first-day 3-under-par 69 on Saturday.

As of late, Rabren hasn’t had the most success when it comes to playing playoff holes. Recently, the senior ended up finishing runner up at the 2014 Future Masters Tournament in Dothan.

“It seems like I played two great rounds,” Rabren said about this rounds at the TimberCreek Classic. “I played next to solid. He (Shephard) played great golf. I had a few mental errors that led to bogeys.”

To get to the playoff, Rabren birded two of his last four holes, including the 18th.

Earlier in his round, Rabren said he had a good opportunity to get the win after No. 15.

“I hit it into the seater on 16 and made bogey,” he said. “I got aggressive and pulled a 3-wood into the water. It would’ve been a really easy short shot (to the hole) and I took a drop and made bogey.”

Rabren added that if he would’ve hit a 4-iron off of the 16th, then he “most likely” would’ve won the tournament.

On the playoff hole, Rabren said Shephard and Brian Richards hit their tee shots in the fairway to about 250 yards from the hole.

Rabren’s tee shot landed 60 yards longer to give him a 200-yard approach to the green.

“Brian hit his in the bunker to the right and Stephen hit a 3-wood,” he said. “It was a perfect shot, landing in the absolute perfect place.”

Rabren said he knew he had to press, but his his long and left to force a chip shot to the green.

Reports indicate that Shephard’s approach landed about 5 feet from the hole, where he sunk his eagle for the win.

Rabren will next be in SJGT action at the Gulf Shores Junior Classic on Sept. 20-21 in Gulf Shores.