Bladenboro’s Junior Nance birdied the first play-off hole to win the Robeson County Golf Championship’s Regular Division Sunday at Pinecrest Country Club in Lumberton.
Nance won the Senior Division last year and decided to move up to the Regular Division for this year’s tournament.
The birdie on Sunday’s 19th hole capped a day that saw Nance make 17 pars and 2 birdies to rally from 5 shots down to win the championship.
“I played really solid golf today,” said Nance. “I hit a lot of fairways and hit every green except one. It was really a stress-free round. I don’t think I had a par putt of 3 feet until 16 and 17.”
Nance was in third place 5 shots back after Saturday’s opening round 76. “I drove the ball horribly Saturday, but I went to the practice range this morning and got that fixed,” he said. “I never really got acclimated to the speed of the greens, but I didn’t miss any short putts.”
Michael White led after Saturday’s round with a 71. Stoney Stone fired a 72 Saturday. Bladen County’s Joey Todd was tied for 4th with Marty Hunt after an opening round 77. Todd posted a 74 Sunday and missed the play-off by 4 strokes.
“It was a heck of a match,” said Nance. “I finally caught them with a birdie at No. 12, but Stoney birdied No.15 to go up by two, while I three-putted from the fringe for a par-5.”
However Stone double-bogeyed No. 16, while Nance got the ball up-and-down for a par. White was a shot down, but pulled even with a birdie at 17 after almost holing his approach shot on the par-4. Stone then bogeyed No. 18 to miss the play-off.
“I got lucky on the play-off hole,” said Nance. “I hit the hard-pan past the bunker with my tee shot, and the ball really took off. I only had 100 yards left where I would normally be looking at 130 yards on that hole.”
Nance knocked his approach to within 10 feet and rolled in the birdie to claim the championship. “I got it done quick,” he laughed. “I was the oldest one out there (age-62), and it was mentally draining. I felt like I was grinding all day.”
Experience and familiarity with the course may have contributed as well. “I first came to this course 54 years ago,” said Nance. “Both my parents were members and played here.”
Nance was a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American during his golf career at Pembroke State (UNC-Pembroke) and was the golf coach at West Bladen High before his retirement from teaching.
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