CHATTANOOGA, TN (July 27, 2017) - Recent Mississippi State graduate Benjamin Follett-Smith completed a dominating wire-to-wire victory at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Invitational at Council Fire Golf Course Thursday, closing with a 67 to reach 20 under and win by eight shots.
It was Follett-Smith's fourth straight sub-70 round, as he increased his lead each day of the tournament. A 66 in round one saw him lead by one shot over three players. A second straight 66 in round two gave him separation from the field with a four shot lead. The lead grew again to seven after a third-round 69, and the final margin was eight shots.
The final round was a beauty for the leader, going bogey-free and setting the tone with an eagle at the par-five second.
The margin might have been larger had runner-up Mikey Feher of Lipscomb University not closed with a 30 on his back nine to finish at 12 under. Feher's round of 65 was the low round of the tournament.
Recent Tennessee-Chattanooga graduate Brooks Thomas closed with a 68 to finish in a tie for third at 10 under. Kansas State golfer Jacob Eklund matched that total with a final-round 70.
Nolan Ray of the University of Tennessee finished solo fifth at 8 under.
No one else in the tournament finished within fourteen shots of the leader.
Chattanooga Choo Choo: Follett-Smith Laps the Field
Benjamin Follett-Smith closes with a 67 to get to 20-under and win by eight shots at Council Fire GC