Claude Harmon Invitational: Marland, Lyons take titles
04 Nov 2012
by Benjamin Larsen of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Eddie Lyons Rankings
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Eddie Lyons
HOUSTON, Texas (Nov. 4, 2012) -- Steve Marland bested Hans Albertsson in 19 holes Sunday to take the championship match in the Mid-Amateur Claude Harmon Division at the 2012 Claude Harmon Invitational at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Lochinvar Golf Course.
In the Butch Harmon Senior Division, Eddie Lyons knocked off two-time winner and top seed Hunter Nelson, 4-and-3.
The Mid-Am finale was a back-and-forth affair with neither player leading by more than one hole throughout. Albertsson took a 1-up advantage on the the par-3 16th and carried that lead into No. 18.
Marland responded beautifully, putting his approach on the par-5 18th to seven feet. He went on to sink the putt and eagle the hole to beat Albertsson's birdie and extend the match.
On 19, Marland two-putted from 50 feet for par while Albertsson's five-foot par save slipped past the edge, giving the victory to Marland.
In the Senior Division, Lyons jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. He led by as many as five shots on the eighth hole, closing out the Houston resident Nelson on the 15th.
The semifinals, originally scheduled for Saturday, were completed Sunday on account of wet weather. In the Mid-Am Division, Marland moved to the championship match with a 1-up win over top-seeded Sandy Pierce. Albertsson advanced thanks to a win over Billy Joe Tolliver.
Senior champion Eddie Lyons moved on with a 2-and-1 win over Mike Burke while runner-up Nelson beat Bill Land 3-and-2.
The event, of course, honors Claude Harmon, the patriarch of the famous Harmon family. Claude, the father of Butch, Craig, Dick and Billy, was the rarest of club professionals. He was three times a semi-finalist in the PGA Championship, and he finished in a tie for third in the 1959 U.S. Open held on his home course at Winged Foot. His most famous accomplishment as a player came when he fashioned rounds of 70-70-69-70 at Augusta National to capture the 1948 Masters Tournament.