51-year-old Mark Jolliffe added his name to the Dick Scholfield trophy on Tuesday as he bested top senior competition from around the state of Kansas.
After posting an opening 1-over 73 at Crestview Country Club (North Course), the Witchita native turned it around in his second round.
Parring the first, Jolliffe was already one better than his first round. Picking up back-to-back birdies on Nos. 2 and 3, he was able to make up the shots that overnight leader and 2015 champion Tim McKinnis had over Jolliffe.
Still two-shots back of McKinnis, Jolliffe snagged another birdie on the par-4 6th to go out in 33, making up ground on McKinnis. Unable to take the momentum past the halfway house, Jolliffe carded bogeys on Nos. 10 and 12 to fall back to even-par for the championship.
Five shots back of McKinnis as the pair stood on the 14th tee, things began to turn back in Jolliffe’s favor. Making back-to-back birdies once again, this time on Nos. 14 and 15, Jolliffe saw a three-shot swing as McKinnis tallied a par and a bogey on the same two holes.
Applying pressure once again, Jolliffe carded a birdie on the 18th as McKinnis slipped with a bogey on 17 and a crucial bogey on 18 which gave Jolliffe the comeback win to best McKinnis and a charging Michael Holloway (2019 champ) by a single stroke.
Sean Thayer (4th; E) and Steve Newman (5th; +1) rounded out the top five.
Kansas Senior: Mark Jolliffe snags comeback win
Down five shots with less than five holes to play, one Witchita senior comes away with a comeback to remember