Late flurry lifts Worley to Ridgefields title

KINGSPORT — Slow and steady has won the race for Brandon Worley all summer, but he needed a late flurry on Sunday to win the Championship Flight of the Ridgefields Invitational. Worley birdied three of the last four holes at Ridgefields County Club to post a 1-under 71, which was good enough for him to win the event by three shots over runner-up Leo Huddleston. "It was a struggle today," Worley said. "I didn't have my best stuff. It was a really big point in the round when I missed a 3-footer on 10 for birdie and hit it OB on my next swing. I really had to dig deep there." Over the last three weeks, Worley has won the William B. Greene Jr. East Tennessee Amateur, the Lonesome Pine Invitational and now Ridgefields Invitational, and he has had tom come from behind in the final round to win each one of them. He is looking to win his fourth invitational tournament in a row next weekend at the Tillinghast Invitational at his home course, the Johnson City Country Club. "I'm pretty excited," Worley said. "It's my home course, so I know it very well. I just have to go out there and hit the shots." Struggle was the word of the day as players filtered into the clubhouse to fill out their scorecards. Despite the fact that the rain this weekend made the greens soft, Worley's under-par round was one of only two recorded all day. The other belonged to Blake Blizard, who shot a 2-under 70 to finish in a tie for fourth. Worley said the rain made the rough tough to get out of, so hitting fairways was at a premium. While he managed to do that consistently, Worley said his putter let him down until the final holes. "I couldn't drop any putts," he said. "It was good to see a few go in there at the end." Seniors After finishing second at Ridgefields three times previously, David Greer rode a fast start to his first win in the event in the Senior Championship Flight. Greer was 2-under through five holes, and that cushion allowed him to hold off the rest of the field. His final-round 73 was good enough to give him a four-shot victory with a two-day total of 147. "It means a lot to get my first win," Greer said. "I just kept it steady on the back - one birdie and one bogey - and no three-puts. I got a little nervous there on No. 9, but I held on." Chris Jenkins came into the day two shots off the lead and finished in a tie for second with Joe Brooks. Jenkins carded a 75 on Sunday while Brooks recorded a 74, leaving them tied at 151 for the tournament. Tony Green entered the final round tied for the lead with Bill Lewis in the Super Senior Championship Flight. Green fired an even-par round of 72 on Sunday to best Lewis by six shots. Green finished with a total of 146 and Lewis ended up at 152, a shot ahead of third-place finisher Mark Halvorsen. Ridgefields Invitational Sunday at Ridgfields Country Club Final Round Championship Flight Brandon Worley 68-71—139 Leo Huddleston 70-72—142 Blake Adams 67-76—143 Matt Bowers 71-73—144 Jake Fowler 72-72—144 Blake Blizard 74-70—144 Garland Green 72-74—146 Carter Wolfe 74-72–146 Julian Smith 74-72—146 Kyle Young 75-72–147 Lucas Armstrong 74-74—148 Lawrence Largent 74-75—149 Jayden Foster 72-77—149 Clint Lowe 74-77—151 Tory Davis 78-73–151 Gabe Sanders 79-72—151 Dustin Davis 77-75–152 Hunter Hartman 75-78—153 Justin Harvey 85-78–153 Zach Briggs 78-75–153 Esteban Hicks 77-78–155 Carter Myers 79-76—155 Max McClure 81-75–156 Gabe Johnson 83-75—158 Nick Cohen 85-74—159 Pierce Lovett 84082–166 Payton Johnson 84-84–168 Max Brian 84-86–170 Stephen Ball 82-89—171 Wes Blaylock 85-92–177 Zach Howe 88-91—179 Drake Crawford 94-WD Senior Championship Flight David Greer 74-73—147 Chris Jenkins 76-75—151 Joe Brooks 77-74–151 Andy Creech 78-77–155 Brian Ritz 79-76–155 Chad Smith 79-WD Anthony Stout 80-80—160 Brian Cook 82-74–156 David Ketron 83-82–165 Chris Bowen 93-WD Roger Chadwell 93-WD Super Senior Championship Flight Tony Green 74-72—146 Bill Lewis 74-78–152 Mark Halvorsen 76-77—153 Steven Shelton 79-76–155 Steve Love 81-78–155 Pat Kenney 79-77—156 Bob Ross 80-76—156 Lyman Fulton 83-75–158 Tom Rapone 84-80—164 Leonard Martin 81-84—165 Mike Hicks 85-84—169 Chris McWherter 87-86–173