CHIPPING TO THE GREEN: Brooks Rabren repeats as tourney champ
Published 12:05 am Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Straughn High School graduate Brooks Rabren rallied on the final day to repeat as tournament champion at the Diakin Spirit of America Classic at the Burningtree Country Club in Decatur.
The South Alabama golfer turned a score of 12-under to clinch the tournament title for the second-straight year.
Rabren became just the second player in tournament history to repeat as champion.
The tournament got started on Thursday and the fourth round wrapped up on Sunday afternoon.
In the opening round, Rabren came out strong with a score of 69.
Rabren’s score of 69 put him tied for sixth place with several other players.
The second round numbers for most players went up on Friday, but Rabren turned in the second lowest round of the day with a score of 66.
Several players turned in strong numbers in Saturday’s third round, and Rabren left himself in a strong position with a score of 69.
After three strong rounds, Rabren was just three strokes behind the leader Matt Gourgeot going into championship Sunday.
Trailing by three strokes to Gourgeot, Rabren turned it up a notch in the final round.
Rabren grabbed the lead on the front nine on Sunday and held on for the title.
Rabren finished the final round with score of 68 to clinch the title with a two-stroke win over Vanderbilt’s Cooper Sears.
The top finishers from the tournament are as follows:
1. Brooks Rabren, 272
2. Cooper Sears, 274
3. Sam Murphy, 278
3. Elliot Sylas, 278
5. Taylor Eyster, 279
5. Matt Gourgeot, 279
7. Trevor Johnson, 280
7. Calum Masters, 280
9. Garrett Johnson, 281
9. Clay Guerin, 281
11. Austin Gean, 284
11. Woodie Eubanks, 284
11. Michael Shears, 284
14. Hunter Battles, 285
14. Nick Robillard, 285
14. John Hayden, 285