Mikey Moyers (Virginia State Golf Association Photo)
After Saturday’s second round of the 47th Virginia State Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship, Mikey Moyers said the key to winning was surviving rather than attacking.
That held true on another chilly, windy day at Elizabeth Manor Golf & Country Club on Sunday. Moyers opened the day with a one-stroke lead that ballooned to six by the turn. At that point, he needed only to hold on, and he did so successfully.
Moyers posted a three-day total of 1-under to claim his first VSGA individual title since 2009, finishing one shot clear of runner-up and Elizabeth manor member Adam Horton.
Moyers, a three-time VSGA Junior Match Play champion who played at Virginia Tech before a brief professional career, finished his tournament by posting a 7-over 77 on Sunday.
He went to the 18th hole with a three-stroke lead and, in his words, “slapped it down the fairway,” knowing he had the cushion necessary to survive unless Horton could put major pressure on him.
Once Horton two-putted for par to finish the tournament at even-par, Moyers, a member at Greene Hills Club, three-putted for a double bogey to hold on for the win.
Brian Weaver finished in third at 3-over, one shot clear of 2020 champion Blake Carter. Michael Redwood rounded out the top five at 5-over.
After making 11 birdies in the first two rounds, Moyers won despite not making any birdies on Sunday. Horton shot 41 on the front nine with five bogeys, a double bogey, and a birdie.
Moyers posted a 1-over 36 on the front, allowing his initial one-stroke edge to expand to six shots. Moyers earns a three-year exemption from qualifying for the VSGA Amateur Championship with his win.
Horton, Weaver, Carter, and Redwood earned exemptions from qualifying for next June’s Amateur at Belle Haven thanks to their top-five finishes.
Pedro Larrain was the only player to break par on Sunday, finishing at 1-under 69 to jump 14 spots into T14.
Moyers round of 7-over 77 was the highest closing round by a winner since Brian Quackenbush posted the same number in 2001 before eventually winning on the fifth hole of a playoff.
The highest-ever closing round by a winner came when Keith Decker shot 8-over 78 at Boonsboro Country Club in 1991 before winning in a playoff.
View results for VSGA Mid-Amateur
ABOUT THE VSGA Mid-Amateur
54-hole stroke play competition (18 holes per day),
with the field being cut to the low 45 and ties for the
final round. Open to VSGA members who will be at
least 25 years of age holding an active GHIN
number
issued by a licensed VSGA Member Club in good
standing.
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