Stratford senior claims regional with 60-foot putt
MONT BELVIEU — Stratford’s Andrew Ferworn delicately struck his 60-foot lag putt on the fourth playoff hole of the Region III-6A golf tournament Thursday with the full expectation of marking it, hopefully within three feet of the pin.
When the ball gently tumbled into the hole, it was more than a welcome bonus.
Ferworn, a senior, outlasted Seven Lakes’ Shaun Nair with the unexpected birdie on the par-4 18th hole at Eagle Pointe Golf Club to claim the individual title after both players ended regulation play with 146 totals.
“I hit it and I thought hopefully I can get it in for par and see if Shaun makes his,” Ferworn said. “As I started watching it, I said, ‘That may go in,’ and it did.
“Just lucky I guess. I don’t know.”
Ferworn’s victory helped Stratford qualify as a team for the Class 6A state tournament.
Memorial, which finished as the runner-up to Stratford in the District 17-6A tournament, captured the regional title with a second round of 289 to post a 593 total.
That was good enough for a five-stroke win over the Spartans, who finished at 598 after rounds of 303 and 295. Clear Lake posted a 312 and 301 for a 613 total to finish third and also qualify for state.
Ferworn followed an opening-round 75 with a 1under 71 on Thursday while Fair recorded rounds of 73 and 73.
Memorial head coach Clayton Brady witnessed his team play well in blustery conditions, boosted by Charlie Wylie’s round of 68 in addition to a 70 from Gray Gammill.
“We putted really well today, and the short game was money,” Brady said. “You absolutely have to be below the hole out here, and I was proud of my guys for doing that.
“The course played super hard today, and you really had to be disciplined.”
Wylie opened the tournament with a very uncharacteristic 79 on Wednesday before responding with his 4-under total Thursday. Gammill also bounced back following a 82 in the first round.
In addition to Nair, other individual qualifiers for the Class 6A state tournament are sophomore Luke Rhodes of Kingwood and freshman Max McClosky of Clear Creek.
Rhodes produced rounds of 77 and 72, while McClosky posted scores of 76 and 74.
Ferworn persevered in claiming the title.
“I’ve been playing really good,” he said. “Coming in here, I haven’t been over par in a long time … like a threemonth stretch. … I just didn’t want to do anything stupid today.
“It means a lot to win this, and having won district, I’d like to three-peat and win state.”