MCC captures Lou Hart Invitational in sudden death playoff

from staff reports
The Meridian Star

MERIDIAN — Midway through his round on Tuesday, Meridian Community College freshman Easton Key was doubled over in pain suffering from kidney stones.

A few hours later his teammates shouted "Stones" — the new nickname they gave him for playing through the pain — after he sank a clutch 15-foot par putt in a sudden death team playoff on No. 1 at Northwood Country Club.

His putt — along with Freshman Jake Stirling's birdie and two other pars from teammates Brandt Garon and Adam Monsen in the playoff — helped the Eagles beat No. 1 ranked Central Alabama to win the Lou Hart Invitational.

In the sudden death playoff format, all 10 players from both teams played No. 1 at the same time. Key's dramatic par putt was followed by Stirling's 10-foot birdie putt. Stirling was the only player to make birdie in the sudden death playoff as MCC topped CACC by one stroke.

"This was a special win for us … it was the first time we've won the Lou Hart,” said MCC Coach Sean Covich. “The playoff was unbelievable, very dramatic. To beat the No. 1 ranked team in that fashion was a memory these guys will always have. I'm still not sure how we won, they (CACC) had 4 putts at birdie and we only had 2 but yet we won. It was crazy. Northwood was in great shape with the new greens it is a great challenge. We look forward to carrying this momentum into final two events."

MCC was three shots ahead of Central heading into Tuesday’s final round of the 54-hole event. A birdie by Central’s Paul Harris on the final hole helped send the match into a playoff as both teams were tied at 895. MCC shot a 300 on Tuesday — Stirling, 72; Clemens Dvorak, 75; Brandt Garon, 76; and Key and Monsen, 77.

Minutes after Stirling birdied No. 1 in the team playoff, he walked back up the fairway to play No. 1 again in a playoff for medalist. But Wallace State Community College’s Blaise Wilson birdied to win the playoff.