Shumate edges Farrell, wins Chick-A-Tee title

SPRINGDALE — A rare playoff hole was required to crown a winner at the 79th Annual Dwight Collins Chick-A-Tee Invitational on Sunday evening.

The one playoff hole was all Bryon Shumate needed to earn his first tournament title. Former University of Arkansas, Fayetteville golfer Josh Farrell sent his tee shot on the par-4 9th out of bounds, giving way to Shumate. Two approaches and a putt later, Shumate carded bogey to claim first place.

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Shumate, who received an brief ovation from onlookers standing outside the clubhouse after the win. “(Farrell) hit his first shot out

of bounds, so that kind of changed my game plan. Then I was just playing for a 4, maybe a 5 at worst. I was just kind of advancing it. I just did what I had to do.”

Farrell and Shumate went shot for shot a majority of the day. On the back nine, Farrell pushed the round to a playoff by sinking a birdie on the par-4 18th. Shumate, needing par to secure the win, saw a 5-footer lip out, giving Farrell new life.

“We had a good match all day,” Shumate said. “He played good. On 18, he hit one within two inches, and I made bogey. It was fun to play with him; he’s a great guy.”

Trouble then set in for Farrell on 14 as a triple-bogey pushed him to two-over. But he quickly rebounded with birdie on 16 and 17. Meanwhile, Shumate looked to be cruising early in the front half of his round, carding birdie on the 12th and par-3 13th, but he admittedly got a bit jittery after back-to-back bogeys on 3 and 4.

“Friday was easy. I shot four-under and should have been a lot lower,” Shumate said. “(Saturday) was a grind. I didn’t play very well, and then today I was going along easy until midway through the back end.”

Farrell said he enjoyed his weekend as a whole. The par4 14th — his only hole overpar — was his lone hiccup over three days. Otherwise, he left pleased with his game.

“Overall, if you’d told me I’d come up here and through 51 holes I’d be 15-under par, I’d have probably taken it,” Farrell said. “(Shumate) played great, and we had fun today.”

Defending champion Brett Granata finished third for the weekend, shooting a

three-under 69 Sunday. Jacob Bartel, who carried a two-shot lead into the final round, was six-over in his final round. Matt Willmott shot three-over 75.

Barring a scheduling conflict next year, Shumate said he hopes to defend his title in 2018.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER Bryon Shumate watches his tee shot on No. 15 on Sunday during the final round of the ChickA-Tee golf tournament at Springdale Country Club.