FAIRMONT —
A pair of former Fairmont State University teammates waged an exciting final-round battle here Sunday in hot and humid conditions in the culmination of the two-day Fairmont Field Club Open at the Fairmont Field Club Golf Course.
In the end, 23-year-old Zack Rudy was able to hold off an impressive late charge by 27-year-old Jon Burnside to claim a one-stroke victory in the tournament which was revived this year after being absent for several golf seasons.
Rudy, who led the tournament throughout after posting a sensational opening-round 65 on Saturday, backed it up Sunday with a three-over par 73. He finished the event with a two-under par 138.
Burnside, meanwhile, fired a one-under 69 on Saturday and shot an even-par 70 Sunday to end up with a one-under par 139.
“I’m just very, very excited about this win,” said Rudy, who along with Burnside helped lead FSU’s golf team to its first-ever NCAA Division II National Golf Tournament appearance back in 2007. “It means a lot to me. I played amazing golf yesterday and for about nine holes today and then the wheels kind of fell off for me. Still, I was able to regroup after a couple of tough holes and hold my own.
“When Jon stuck the shot that he did there on 13, hitting driver to a foot-and-a-half and making an eagle on that par four, he called it the turning point in the tournament and he was right. I was able to get a tough up and down for my par, but I knew right then and there it was on.”
Burnside entered the final round trailing Rudy by four shots. At the turn, he trailed by six after Rudy fired a one-under 34 on the front nine, while Burnside settled for a one-over 36.
Rudy pushed his lead to seven shots after 11 holes when he parred the 207-yard par three No. 11 hole, while Burnside bogeyed it. Burnside, however, quickly made up three shots on the next two holes when he birdied No. 12 and, as noted, eagled No. 13 after hitting driver to within a foot-and-a-half on the 316-yard, par-four hole.
“This just shows you how much one shot can make or break a golf tournament for someone,” said Burnside. “I’ve won a couple of tournaments in my time by one shot. I was six or seven behind there with only a few holes left and knew I had to do something to make a move. I hit driver there on 13 and maybe it was a little luck, but I got the eagle, got things going and I felt right there was a turning point in the tournament.”
Rudy experienced trouble on the next two holes as he suffered back-to-back doubles, while Burnside posted two straight pars to pull even with him with three holes remaining.
The tie, however, was shortlived. On the par-three 16th hole Rudy gathered himself and made par, while Burnside suffered a bogey to fall one back.
“I felt like Zack putted very well all day long,” said Burnside. “He really did a nice job on the greens. Give him credit. He suffered back-to-back doubles and battled back and parred out.
“I putted okay, but I kind of felt like I had a problem getting the feel and speed of the greens the whole round. But, that’s the way it goes. I’m glad this event is back. I’m happy I had a chance to be able to play in it. The course was in great shape this weekend and it was a lot of fun.”
Both golfers narrowly missed birdie putts on the par-four 17th hole and settled for pars heading to the last hole with Rudy clinging to a one-shot advantage.
“When we were heading into the final three holes tied I kind of felt in my mind like ‘Well, this is going to be a coin flip. It could go either way.’ Jon is a great player. There’s no question about that. I got one back from him on 16, but I knew it was coming right down to the final hole and probably a final shot.
“I hit a great putt on 17. I thought I made it for a birdie, but I didn’t. Still, I was up one and I headed to the last tee thinking about just making par. I felt if Jon got a birdie we’d just go settle it in a playoff. It didn’t come to that, but almost.”
Rudy battled the left side trees the whole way down the fairway on the par-five 18th hole, but made a nice up-and-down through the trees for par, sinking a six-foot putt to seal the victory. Burnside, who nearly chipped in for birdie, also made par.
‘I really enjoyed this event,” said Rudy. “The course was in great shape, there was good competition and it came right down to an exciting finish.”
Current FSU senior golfer Matt Pellillo finished third in the tournament with a 75-68-143. Green Hills Country Club pro Mark Welton placed fourth with a 73-72-145, while Fairmont State golf signee Ryan Moore ended up fifth in the championship flight with a 73-74-147.
Taylor Callison won the first flight with a 78-72-150. He was followed by Tyler Hartzell in second with a 76-77-153 and Glenn Boyles in third with a 78-79-157.
Top honors in the second flight went to Mark Pallotta with an 84-79-163. Rick Johnson finished second with an 84-80-164, while Randy Workman placed third with an 84-81-165.
Marshall Smith won the third and final flight with a 90-89-179. Doug Craig placed second with a 97-83-180 and Dave Carlot ended up third with a 91-94-185.
Duane Cochrane
Rudy holds off Burnside to win FFC Open
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