Camron Flanders’ putter felt as light as a wand all weekend and seemed just as magical as he knocked down putts during the Lawrence Amateur Golf Assn. Men’s Amateur Championship.
But the putter grew heavy, Flanders said, when a large crowd watched him and Mike Grosdidier battle for the title on the first playoff hole Sunday at Eagle Bend Golf Course.
“I definitely felt the weight of it in my hands,” said Flanders, who just missed out on the city championship two years ago when he took third. “And I had a tough five-foot putt uphill, but I was pretty confident I could make it.”
That he did, making birdie on the par-5 ninth hole for the championship. Grosdidier settled for par.
“It’s really exciting,” said Flanders, a Kansas University sophomore and Lawrence High graduate who shot a 2-over-par 146 total after rounds Saturday at Alvamar and Sunday at Eagle Bend. “I was just getting really tired out there and knew that I needed to hit that putt to end things there, because Mike was playing really well, and he just kept coming back.”
Despite shooting 1-under-par 71, which was one stroke better than Flanders’ round Sunday, Grosdidier had to settle for second.
“It’s fun to get there,” said Grosdidier, who was three shots back on the last three holes before he birdied 16 and 17 and nearly 18, which would have won it. “But I’m sure it’s a lot more fun to win it. Maybe next year.”
LAGA president Ron Shaver said watching the first playoff in the LAGA’s three years was exciting.
“What a finish,” Shaver said. “All the other golfers are waiting for the cookout and awards ceremony to begin, but we had to wait for the winner.
“So we all went out to hole No. 9 and cheered them on.”
LAGA official Gary Shafer echoed Shaver.
“We couldn’t have picked a better ending, even if it was almost dark,” he said.
Shaver said the championship was a success.
“It just keeps getting better and better,” he said. “We had the most participants in history, an exciting finish, and I just can’t wait for next year.”
Neither can Flanders.
“Right now I’m really tired, but when I think back on it I’m sure it will mean that much more,” said Flanders. “I’m just really happy I had one more putt in me.”