Every kid who plays golf imagines making the perfect shot on the final hole to win the Masters or the Open or some other major championship.

Will Ruth didn’t win the Masters or the Open when he chipped in his second shot on the par-4 18th hole at the Palmetto Golf Club in the final round of the Southern Cross, but he celebrated like he did.

The Dorman High School sophomore, an individual qualifier for this year’s prestigious tournament, holed an amost 40 yard chip to eagle the hole and used it to win the individual competition by two-shots. Ruth finished with an even par 142 total.

“I started hollering when it went in. I probably shouldn’t have, but to win the best tournament on the best course with the best players, I never felt this excited before,” said Ruth.

The Dorman golfer was tied for third place going into the final round, two shots off the lead.

Without the benefit of a practice round Ruth was left to the generosity and sportsmanship of a couple of other team’s coaches to help him make his way around the historic course.

“Spartanburg coach Todd White gave me some distances and Hanna coaches Eric Bona had an extra yardage book and assistant coach Matt Harbin, who is a member, gave me a few tips. I can’t thank them enough for their help,” he said.

Even with the yardages and tips Ruth still had to hit the shots and when he double bogeyed the 13th hole he thought his chances for a win might have ended.

After a par on 14 he found himself in trouble off the 15th green, but an amazing recovery shot left him with a 15 foot birdie putt that as he put it “dripped into the hole.”

“I got my confidence back when that putt went in,” he said.

Ruth parred the 16th hole and almost chipped in on 17 before blasting a drive to within 40 yards of the pin on the final hole. The eagle gave him a second round 1-under par 70 for the day.

The last time Ruth played the course was as a seventh grader with the Dorman team and his memory of his play was not great.

It all changed with one great chip shot on the final hole to win the most prestigious high school event in the state.

“It was one of my goals to come back here and play better than the last time. I hope I can come back and finish on top again. Accomplishing goals is the most fun,” concluded the Southern Cross champion.

Behind Ruth, Chase Cline from Chapin was second with a 144 total. Teddy Dean from Gray Collegiate and Charles Cauthen from AC Flora tied for third place with Groves Williams from Christ Church and Dawson Szabo from Blue Ridge finishing tied for fifth.

Scores from the Southern Cross https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/10549339277827797032

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