Martin Cryan got to play the first round of the AGA/GAP Tournament of Champions on his home course at Fox Hill Country Club, but it was Tuesday’s second round – and the ensuing sudden-death playoff – at Huntsville Golf Club that Cryan used to claim the title.
Cryan caught first-day leader James Flickinger Jr. by tying for the best round at Huntsville, then won the playoff with a birdie on the first hole.
Both Cryan and Flickinger shot 12-over-par, 155 for 36 holes.
Flickinger led at the midway point after shooting 2-over, 73 at Fox Hill.
Cryan was one of four players to shoot 8-over, 80 at Huntsville.
On the playoff, Cryan made his way from two bunkers – one fairway and one green-side – on the par-5, getting up-and-down from the second one by making a winning 12-foot putt.
With Flickinger closer to the hole for birdie, Cryan approached the putt knowing he might need it just to extend the tournament. Instead, Cryan made the putt and that ended up deciding the title when Flickinger was unable to convert his birdie chance.
Cryan, a 17-year-old from Forty Fort, is going into his senior year at Holy Redeemer.
