VALDOSTA —
Ted Potter Jr. barely made the field for the 2011 South Georgia Classic at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club. He qualified for the event on the Monday before the tournament began. By the end of the weekend, Potter Jr. had set a then-tournament-record for lowest-score.
Now, Potter Jr. is a winner on the PGA TOUR after he beat fellow TOUR rookie Troy Kelly in a playoff at The Greenbrier Classic.
With the win, Potter Jr. is the first South Georgia Classic winner to go on and win on golf’s biggest stage, although other participants, who failed to win the Classic, have gone on to win on the PGA TOUR.
Potter Jr. became the second rookie to win a PGA TOUR event his season. He shot a final-round 64, closing the day with an eagle and a birdie, to force the playoff with Kelly. On the third playoff hole, Potter Jr. sank a 4-foot birdie putt to secure the win.
On the third playoff hole, Kelly missed the green and his second shot on the par-3 was still 44-feet from the flag stick. He par’d the hole.
Much like he did at the 2011 South Georgia Classic, which was his first-career win on the then-Nationwide Tour (now called the Web.com Tour), Potter Jr. posted four rounds int he 60’s this weekend at the Greenbrier Classic — something Tiger Woods nor Phil Mickelson could do.
Potter Jr. started the tournament with an opening-round 69, followed by a 67 in Friday’s round. Once the weekend rolled around, Potter Jr. stepped his game up and shot back-to-back rounds of 64 to finish the tournament and force the playoff.
In the playoff, Potter Jr. had a chance to win on the second extra hole but missed a 5-foot birdie putt. He took full-advantage of his solid tee-shot on the third playoff hole, sinking the birdie putt and taking home his first-career victory on the PGA TOUR.
U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson lost a one-stroke lead on the back nine at the tournament for the second straight year. He made three straight bogeys, shot 73 and tied for seventh.
Potter Jr. earned his PGA TOUR card for the 2012 season after he finished in the top 25 of last year’s Money List on the Nationwide Tour. He closed out the 2011 Nationwide season with two victories.
Prior to Sunday’s win, Potter Jr. had made seven cuts in 16 PGA TOUR events this season and his highest finish was T-13 at the Sony Open in Hawaii back on Jan. 15.
Local Sports
2011 Classic winner Potter Jr. wins on PGA TOUR
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