Calhoun County, AL – Hammond-Harman masters ‘fluke hole’, and then finish with a strong’redemption for a another Calhoun County Team Championship in three years
By Joe Medley
Silver Lakes — An “fluke hole” cost Brandon Hammond and John Harman an opportunity to compete again in the Calhoun County Team championship last year. The birdie they made on Sunday was a way to achieve “redemption.” It was the Carrollton, Ga., pair shot 10-under-par 62 on the following day in Silver Lakes to complete a 22-under round in the two-round event . They won for the third time in three years. They defeated Brennan Clay-Jeremy McGatha by three and Jason Johnson-Landon Stratub by four to be able to once more win the only event in the area they compete. “I believe it’s that course in itself,”” Harman said. “It is pleasing to our eyes. … It’s also is the excitement which this tournament provides. We had a chance to play with a professional yesterday and there’s an abundance of talent. “That is what draws us. We love good competition.”
Hammond-Harman started the round on Sunday at 12 under, which was two shots ahead of Clay McGatha and Johnson-Straub. The east-bound players were the co-leaders in the first round last year , and they led through the day’s 15th hole. They played seven holes halfway through the round 7-under and held as high as a three-shot lead over in the final nine. The 15th hole of the round is Heartbreaker Course No. 6 – a 3,43 yard par-4 hole that starts from White Tees. A double bogey on the hole sank Hammond-Harman’s chances last year. Randy Lipscomb and Dane Moore took the win with a birdie at the hole that was first played in the playoff. Hammond-Harman was one shot clear from the final round.
Then, a year after and Hammond said the accident was an “fluke hole” following the first round on Saturday. They expressed anxiety over it on Sunday, beginning with an eagle, and then beating their closest rivals with 5 under on the first nine holes. “We were fairly solid right from the gate, hitting good shot after solid” Hammond said. “We did not have any doubt about something. “It was simply placing. We didn’t roll it all that well today. We made the putts we absolutely needed to create however we didn’t make any mistakes that we shouldn’t had to have made.”
When they got to the 15th hole, these thoughts came to mind. But not the thoughts. They didn’t have any sense of dread. “We got onto the tee and all we could think about was that we’d get our revenge on the hole in this particular year,” Harman said. Harman added to Hammond, “I’d been looking for this hole for the whole day.” Hammond stayed with the trend of the day’s 2-iron on short par-4s . He hit his ball over the bunker, which was jutting towards the fairway’s left. He hit the ball only 70 yards from the pin. Harman drove his golf club just inside the green. In the course’s “scamble” format Harman putted first. “My partner turned to him and said, “I’m that you’re happy that you put it in and I’m sure you’re glad you did,'” Harman said. Hammonds’ lone lament? “I wanted to create mine but he’s already created his, so I took it,” he said. [read more….]
