Southeastern Amateur: Krywulcz never trails

COLUMBUS, Ga. (June 15, 2008)--On a beautiful day at the Country Club of Columbus, Mitch Krywulycz completed his wire to wire victory over George Bryan IV and Derek Chang by five strokes at the 79th annual Southeastern Championship. But that's not to say it wasn't a little interesting. Krywulycz started the day with a bang, making eagle three at the opening hole to go to 12-under. He followed that with birdies at the par 5 No. 4 and the infamous No. 11 which had been yielding high numbers again on day four. Krywulycz had a six shot lead after turning Oh Man! corner. Bryan IV was charging and when Krywulycz bogied 13 while Bryan was making a birdie on 14, the lead was cut to four. Krywulycz then bogied 15 to make the lead three. Bryan IV bogied 16 and then made a terrific up and down on 17 for birdie to get back to -9, and the cut the lead to three again. Krywulycz had to feel the pressure. After his second shot into 17 landed right over the flag stick and trickled off the back edge of the green, Krywulycz was faced with a difficult pitch. He proceeded to open up the blade hitting a high soft shot which landed 10 feet away. The ball seemed to take a few minutes on the quick greens to roll toward the pin and then clinked off the pin and dropped in for his second eagle of the day. More importantly, the shot that secured the tournament. Charlie Whittington who picked up the bag again for Mitch was heard telling Krywulycz "You're so lucky" right after the shot dropped in the hole. Bryan IV had a short birdie putt on 18 which had been playing tough with a back left pin location. He had to be thinking a finishing birdie would really put the pressure on Mitch, unaware not knowing the who was responsible for the cheers from the crowd on 17. Bryan missed the putt and let himself take a look at the standard bearers sign on 18 fairway after tapping in to see what Mitch had done. He gave a rye smile and a shrug of the shoulders as if to say "wouldn't have mattered anyway."