BELLEFONTE —
Jeffrey Meade strolled along the 18th fairway thinking he had just one man to beat.
Then, as rainclouds overhead gave way to sunshine, he saw his opening.
Former Ashland high school golf teammate Nick Blankenship left his birdie attempt on No. 18 just short of the cup, creating a window for another Meade win at Bellefonte Country Club.
Or so he thought.
The Transylvania University signee drained a seven-foot birdie putt to take a two-over-par 72 into the clubhouse during Monday’s EKJGA Walmart Tour event at Bellefonte.
Kyle Brown, mainly known for his West Carter basketball accomplishments through his junior year, gave Meade some company with a 72 in his first EKJGA tournament this summer.
“At the time I thought it was just me and (Blankenship),” said Meade, thinking back to the 18th green. “I knew I had to beat him. I didn’t know Kyle was going to come in tied with me.”
Brown and Meade, of the grades 11-12 division, went head-to-head in the first of three sudden-death playoffs the EKJGA saw on Monday.
Meade, who claimed the esteemed Bluegrass Junior at Bellefonte in June, survived with a par on No. 11 to edge Brown, who couldn’t recover from a bunker lie after a tough second shot.
“After I saw his second shot go in the bunker,I told myself, don’t do something stupid,” said Meade, whose drive nestled into the rough between a left-side sand trap and the fairway, just short of the green on the 292-yard par 4. “I wanted to pitch it up, leave myself about 15 feet or so.”
Meade executed the pitch just as planned, leaving a 14-foot putt for birdie. He missed, but a tap-in for par was enough.
“I hit the driver well until No. 11,” said Brown, who is expected to lead both the Comets’ golf and basketball teams as a senior. “I putted pretty decent, and had a good wedge game, but I missed a lot of greens.”
Brown was fairly steady throughout the day, with three birdies and five bogeys, while Meade had to emerge from a back nine consisting of two double bogeys (Nos. 13 and 16).
After a drive found the trees and plopped into the rough 100 yards from the tee box, a hybrid club approach shot on No. 17 proved to be his best save of the day.
“That was like the greatest par I’ve ever made out there (at Bellefonte),” Meade said.
Thomas Hall (over Ryan Gillum in grades 9-10) and Roger Maynard III (over Tate Justus in grades 7-8) emerged from the other two playoffs. Other boys champions were Jonathan Bryant (3-under) and Evan Goble (4-6). Girls champions were Laken McKinney (10-12), Katelyn Rogers (7-9) and Abby Thompson (3-under).
Hall is set to replace Meade, one of three departed seniors, in the Tomcats’ golf lineup when the high school season gets underway next week.
A junior-to-be, he is currently going toe-to-toe with Drew Burke for player of the year honors in the grades 9-10 group.
With three straight bogeys to end Monday’s round, Hall hoped to avoid a collapse akin to Adam Scott’s debacle in the British Open this past weekend.
“I was pretty frustrated,” said Hall, who will be the third golfer behind Nick Blankenship and Evan Cox for Ashland.
Hall let a three-stroke lead slip away as Gillum, of Grayson, forced a playoff, both having 78s.
In the playoff, each double bogeyed No. 10, a par 5, before Hall’s par on No. 11 gave him his third EKJGA victory this summer. He also won a Pepsi Tour tournament at the University Club in Lexington.
Friday’s Eagle Trace (Morehead) event is the final of 10 on the EKJGA Walmart Tour.
While Blankenship (boys grades 11-12) and Haley Adams (girls grades 10-12) have already clinched titles in their respective divisions, the remainder of the players of the year awards will be determined then.
AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.
Local Sports
Related Photos
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Kyle Brown hits out of a bunker No. 11 during a playoff hole in the EKJGA tournament at Bellefonte Country Club Monday, he finished in second place. Kevin Goldy / The Independent
Discussion
Brown supplies drama, but Meade survives
EKJGA Bellefonte provides three playoffs
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