Just returned from the Mid-Am final -- Mississippi's Steve Wilson (ironically, the same age as Mississippi native and former Packer QB Brett Favre, with whom he's golfed) beat Todd Mitchell 5&4 in the finals.
Wilson had the better of play today, sinking tons of putts throughout the day. The match was decided in a five-hole stretch at the end of the morning round and beginning of the afternoon round. Mitchell, having gotten the match to 1 down after 16, hit the green on the very tough uphill par 3 17th, while Wilson sent his tee shot into a very deep greenside bunker. But Wilson got up and down for par, while Mitchell couldn't convert. Wilson pulled the same trick on 18, getting up and down from a greenside bunker for par while Mitchell three-putted to go 2 down.
Wilson stiffed a wedge on the first hole of the afternoon session for birdie, then made a miraculous par on the par 5 3rd hole after nearly slicing his approach shot OB right of the green. His up-and-down from the rough, over a bunker, was pretty incredible. Mitchell failed to birdie, and stayed 3 down. Wilson closed him out with steady play, including a phenomenal par to halve the 9th hole (drove into the back greenside bunker on the driveable par 4 9th, bunker shot went into the front bunker, second bunker shot went about 20 feet past the hole, and his putt would've gone back into the front bunker if the hole hadn't gotten in the way. An amazing four.)
A great tournament, wonderful work by superintendent Pat Sisk and his staff, and a warmly welcoming, hospitable, and accommodating membership at MCC. A terrific Mid-Am experience.