ATLANTA, Ga. – Hughes Threlkeld secured victory in remarkable fashion at the 75th Golf Pro Payments Georgia Open presented by Smok’n Pig B-B-Q and Visit Valdosta at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta on Sunday. The mini-tour professional from St. Simons Island, who holed out from the greenside bunker on the second playoff hole to outlast fellow mini-tour professional Beck Burnette from Blairsville in an astounding finish.
Three strokes back to begin the final round, Threlkeld caught fire early with four birdies on a bogey-free front nine, pulling even with Burnette at the turn and sparking a two-man race the rest of the way. However, bogeys on holes 10, 13, and 14 again set Threlkeld three strokes behind Burnette, but the champion credited his composure for getting back into contention on the last few holes.
“I thought I was out of it on the back nine midway, but I did a good job of resetting and hanging in there,” he said. “I just knew I had to hang in there as long as I can, and crazy stuff can happen.”
Burnette entered the 18th hole with a one-shot lead, but a clutch par putt from Threlkeld after a Burnette bogey brought both players to 15-under-par 273 and set up a playoff on the 18th hole.
After Burnette tapped in for par on the first playoff hole, Threlkeld drilled yet another must-make 14-foot putt to force a second playoff on hole 18. There, he delivered the shot of the tournament and claimed the title with the 55-foot hole out from the bunker.
“It was really a hit and hope. My only hope of keeping it on the green was to hit the hole, and luckily it came out pretty good,” he said. “Crazy.”
Atlanta native and current Georgia Southern University golf team member Pierce Adamson finished third overall and claimed the low amateur honors at 11-under 277 for the championship. Adamson jumped five spots on the leaderboard Sunday with a 6-under 66, the best round of the day.
To add to the improbability of his victory, Threlkeld earned a spot in the field as an alternate just last week.
Threlkeld’s victory marked the conclusion of the 75th playing of the Georgia Open since its inception in 1952. The tournament continues its tradition as one of Georgia’s premier golf championships, featuring top talent from throughout the state.