By Michael Rich
Former Delaware Hayes golfer Grant Godfrey outlasted two others with a birdie on the first playoff hole of the Ohio Big I Junior Golf Qualifier at the Highland Meadows Golf Club Monday in Sylvania.
Godfrey used a fortunate bounce off his second shot to set up his 4-foot birdie opportunity.
“I got a little lucky,” Godfrey said. “I kind of chunked. It came up a little short left and then hit off a little down-slope and rolled out to the hole, which is nice … you need a little luck in this game.”
Godfrey started strong with birdies on holes 3 and 4 on his way to a 1-under front nine before the wind picked up. He hung on to finish in a three-way tie with Tommy Sullinger and Palmer Yenrick to force the playoff.
“I was feeling good right off the bat,” Godfrey said. “It got a little windier on the back (nine). I started losing the ball a little to the right and it was hard to keep it in play. But, I just grinded it out and salvaged a solid round.”
All three qualified for the Big I National Championship Aug. 1-4 at the Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento, California.
“It’s one of the bigger junior tournaments around the country,” Godfrey said. “It’s a great feeling — a great experience to meet new people and play against the best of the best.”
Godfrey was OCC-Capital Player of the Year and qualified for the state championship as an individual in his senior season with the Pacers.
He is headed off to the University of Toledo in the fall and hopes to qualify for the Rockets’ top five when the season starts Sept. 4.
“As long as I keep putting in the work, I know I can compete with anyone,” Godfrey said. “I haven’t had the best scores this summer, but I believe if I put in the hard work that it will pay off.”
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Follow Michael Rich on Twitter @mrichdelgazette.
