Joseph Deraney holds 2016 Timuquana Cup trophy
(Photo Courtesy of Clint Avret)

"It is a big win," Joseph Deraney said following back-to-back weekend even-par 72 scores. "I came close last year a bunch of times, so it is a nice start to the year. It takes a little bit of the pressure off because I have a win."

The win was the culmination of a busy week for Deraney. Originally he had planned on flying to Jacksonville, but a job interview in Nashville altered his plans.

Despite, the last minute change of plans, the eight-hour drive from Lexington, KY to Jacksonville didn't effect his golf game. Deraney, tied for the lead after the first day, was only two behind leader David Poteet and his 4-under score following the second round.

"It is always good to start quick (especially when) there are only three days. You can’t win it day one but you can lose. I didn’t hit it great (in the first round) but I putted really well," said Deraney.

When the final round began on Sunday Deraney thought 4-under would be the magic number and he began his round aggressively. Deraney birdied the first and then rolled in another on No. 6 and as he made the turn at 4-under for the tournament he was right in the middle of everything.

As often happens on the homeward nine at tournaments, things begin to change quickly and that was the case today in Jacksonville. David Poteet had led nearly wire-to-wire and as he made the turn on Sunday he was 1-under for the day and 5-under for the tournament. What happened next nobody could have seen coming as Poteet double-bogeyed 10, bogeyed 11 and 12 to drop back to 1-over for the tournament. Three more bogeys followed dropping Poteet back to 2-over and in the process, swinging the door of possibility wide open.

After the stumbles by Poteet, it became a two horse race between Deraney and Bowen Osborn. The turning point of the afternoon proved to be the 12th and 13th holes. Osborn birdied the par-5 12th to move into a share of the lead at 3-under, while Deraney stared down a seven-foot par putt and a potential two-stroke swing. But Deraney had been putting well all week and he knocked the putt home saving his five.

On the par-3 13th which Deraney called, "maybe the hardest hole on the golf course," the Kentuckian hit the shot of the day sticking his four-iron to two inches and ensuring a birdie that moved him to 4-under. On the same hole Osborn bogeyed and the lead quickly became two shots.

Deraney maintained his two shot lead until the final hole, when he made a cautious bogey to secure the Mother's Day victory.

"I just can't say enough about my wife Sarah (who) allows me to come down here on Mother's Day, (we have two young kids) and play this tournament," Deraney said. "Happy Mother’s Day Sarah!"

The final margin of victory ended up being one-stroke over Bowen Osborn while Matt Salane was 1-over and in third. Poteet, the first and second round leader, ended up in fourth and Tyler McKeever was fifth at 3-over. Coleman Invitational winner TJ Shuart continued his steller big tournament play, tying for sixth with a 4-over 54-hole score.