Article taken from zanescilletimesrecorder.com
A late rally Saturday allowed Westfield Center native Parker Hewit to get back into the tournament.
On Sunday, the Bowling Green junior-to-be carried that momentum to a final round 6-under 66 to rally for a one shot victory in the Mid-Ohio Golf Association Invitational at Hickory Flat Greens Golf Course.
“Going into 16 yesterday I was 2-over, so I knew I needed to make something happen to get back into the tournament,” Hewit said. “I birdied the last three holes to get back into the tournament. I was able to shoot my way back into contention.”
Hewit's 7-under total was one better than Zanesville's Chase Wilson and Dover's Kevin Miller, who was one of two leaders at 6-under at the end of Saturday.
Wilson, playing six groups in front of the leader, carded a 31 on his back nine to finish after an even-par 72 Saturday.
“I played very well, and any time you can have a bogey-free round it's a good thing,” Wilson said. “The bad part is that I left quite a few shots out there.”
Wilson hit all nine greens in regulation on the back nine but had a pair of putts lip out while also missing a short birdie putt on No. 10.
Wilson, a sophomore at High Point University, only saw his lead stand for one group as Hewit followed him with his 66 to take the lead.
“I figured there would be some low scores out there and I knew I didn't shoot myself out of the tournament on Saturday,” Hewit said. “The key for me was playing the par 3s well, which has been a struggle for me at times.”
In fact, Hewit played the five par 3s in 2-under for the weekend in putting his name on the Floyd M. Redman Memorial Trophy.
As the final five groups came in, Hewit saw his lead stay in tact as Chuck Nettles, of McMurray, Pa., and Spenser Sulzener, of New Philadelphia, both finished at 5-under.
Word came in from the course that Miller had bogeyed No. 17, his third bogey on a par 3 on the back nine, which meant he had to eagle No. 18. His putt ran just past the edge of the hole.
“Obviously those par 3s were the difference,” Hewit said.
Last year's runner-up, Tom Ballinger, of Mansfield, finished sixth at 140 while Lucas Murray, of East Sparta, and Josh Agin, of Zanesville, tied for seventh at 141. Ben Boyer, of Dayton, Trevor Jones, of Poland, and Chris Miller, of New Philadelphia, finished in a tie for eighth at 142.
Tyler Hickerson, of Malta, turned in a second day 76 to finish at 149, and Dave Desender, of Norwich, and Joe Lemon, of McConnelsville, each finished at 150.
Matt Kaido finished at 153 to round out the Zanesville area golfers.
“This was my second MOGA and I will be back next year to defend because I love it and the people who run it and the people at the course are so wonderful,” Hewit said.
