Mike Hamilton Wins Kirkbrae Club Championship
Mike Hamilton beat Tommy McCormick 6&5 to win the Kirkbrae Club Championship on Sunday afternoon.
This was a rematch of last year’s Club Championship that went 38 holes.
For Hamilton, the trophy adds to what has already been a big summer for Hamilton, finishing runner-up in the Rhode Island Amateur and winning the Stroke Play Championship just a few weeks ago.
This is Hamilton’s fourth Club Championship title, all coming since 2013.
Story of the Match
Hamilton led by as much as five on the first 18 holes, before McCormick rallied to cut the deficit to two heading into the second 18.
McCormick had a chance to cut it to one on 18, but just missed the putt.
On the first hole of the second 18, Hamilton got back on track, winning the hole with a par to go three-up.
McCormick bounced back on the second hole, getting the victory after an errant tee shot by Hamilton found him in the trees on the left.
The par-5 third hole is where things changed.
Hamilton put his tee shot way up in the left trees, and then hit an incredible shot onto the green to give himself an eagle putt. He missed it but made the birdie to win the hole.
On the fourth hole both Hamilton and McCormick hit nearly identical tee shots into the green, but Hamilton rolled in the birdie putt and McCormick’s just missed.
The defending RI Stroke Play champion was now four-up.
Hamilton would win two more holes on the front, including an impressive birdie on eight to take a six up lead heading into the final nine holes.
The match was closed out on 13 with both players making pars.