P.J. Shields breaks records in third Chicken Dinner win
There are few amateur golfers in the area, and perhaps in the entire state of Georgia, as hot as P.J. Shields is right now.
The former LaFayette High School individual state champion and Dalton State College NAIA All-American came back to the Queen City of the Highlands last weekend eyeing his third career Chicken Dinner tournament championship, which would put him in select company as just one of a handful of players who have ever won the 82-year-old tournament at least three times.
Not only did Shields join that select fraternity, he did it in record-breaking fashion.
Shields blistered the 6,510-yard, par-72 layout on Saturday with an 18hole tournament record 61 before following up with a 69 on Sunday to claim the title with a score of 130. The 14-under par total for 36 holes is also believed to be a Chicken Dinner tournament record.
“This is like my Masters,” said Shields, who went 9-under par (68-67) to win the North Invitational at the Dalton Golf and Country Club a week earlier. “(The Chicken Dinner) may not be the biggest tournament, but it really hits home (for me).”
His record-setting round began with a frontside 32, highlighted by birdies at Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 7. He would really put the pedal to the metal on the back nine as he started out birdie, eagle, birdie and finished up with three consecutive birdies at 16, 17 and 18 for a backside 29.
Then on Sunday, Shields overcame a double bogey on the par4 second hole by carding birdies at Nos. 1, 4 and 8, while also posting an eagle two at the par-4 third hole. He would shoot 33 on the front nine and coast home with nine straight pars on the back.
“Everything that could happen the right way did,” Shields said of his 61. “I was making putts, more than I normally do. I’ve put a lot of hard work into my putting this year. I hit everything like I wanted to and putted well. The second round, not so much, but I hung in there.
“The main thing is that I haven’t really made any mistakes. Last week (in Dalton), I had just one bogey in two rounds. This week, I just had the one double (bogey), so there’s really been no mistakes and that’s what will get the job done.”
LaFayette Golf Course head professional Eddie Jackson called Shields’ 61 “incredible”.
“He makes it looks so easy,” Jackson said. “He’s one of a few young men I’ve ever worked with that I believe
82nd Chicken Dinner Tournament (at LaFayette Golf Course) Championship Flight Results