Honeycutt wins 2nd title

Ryan Honeycutt edged Richard Cobb by 1-up in an air-tight match — that could be expected between former champions — in the finals of the Horace Billings Rowan Amateur Golf Tournament at Corbin Hills Golf Club Sunday.

Ryan, 1997 winner, turned back Cobb with five birdies in winning the championship for the second time. Cobb fired in four birdies.

The finalists carried their battle down to the wire and matched birdies on the 17th and 18th holes in one of the finest matches in the 23-year-old tournament.

Cobb, trailing by two holes, birdied three of the final four but was able to cut the deficit only one hole.

He started the birdie spree on the 15th. He then birdies the 17h and 18th. But Ryan answered the challenge.

“It was a very good match,” said Honeycutt. “We both played well. I had to play well to win.”

Honeycutt pointed out that his winning the seventh and eighth holes proved to be key factors in his victory.

Cobb knocked his tee shot out of bounds on the seventh and Honeycutt won the hole with a par. He followed up with a winning birdie at the eighth for a 3-up lead.

Cobb took the ninth and 12th holes to reduce the margin to 1-down.

Honeycutt won the 14th with a birdie to regain a 2-up lead.

Cobb started his late rally with a birdie at the 15th, slicing the margin again to one hole.

“I played the best round of the tournament,” added Honeycutt. “It was close all the way.”

“I played well, too,” said Cobb. “I just came up short again. Ryan played real well.”

Honeycutt carded a 3-under 69, and Cobb had a 2-under 70.

Earlier in the day, Honeycutt edged Clayton Peterson, 2 and 1, and Cobb took a 2 and 1 win over Adrian Marbry in the semifinal pairings.

Honeycutt scored six birdies and posted a 2-under-par score in his semifinal win. He reeled off three straight birdies starting at the ninth hole.

Cobb was one under par in his win. He birdied the 12th for a 1-up lead and took the 17th to bag the win.

Trophies were presented to the top four finishers of the event.