There may not be a golf hole in the Upstate that can compare for drama with the ninth hole at Boscobel.

The not very long par-4 is where champions are crowned in playoffs and it seems almost every event at Boscobel requires an extra hole, the ninth hole, to be played sometimes more than once.

This year the annual Budweiser Classic needed the ninth hole for a playoff after four golfers tied for the lead at the end of the 36 hole weekend championship.

Each of the four golfers had chances to wrap up a win during the final round, but in each case a bad shot or a bad break kept anyone from having the lead when all the scores were counted.

The shotgun start for the afternoon flights meant not all golfers finished on the same hole.

Defending champion James Scott and his college teammate at Presbyterian Cole Patterson each had a chance at the lead, lost it, but then made a birdie on their final hole to get to 4-under par and make the playoff.

Rod Overholt and Brandon Pearson each also had chances, but when they finished their rounds at 4-under par it was off to the ninth hole and another dramatic finish.

Just as last year the playoff began as the day was running out of light.

The ninth hole usually plays in the 270 to 290 range making it a risk-reward hole for big hitters and require precise placement for golfers who need a second shot to reach the green.

This year tournament officials moved the tee up 25 yards to give everyone in the field a chance to go for the green.

Scott was first on the tee and from the reaction of the crowd, gathered at the clubhouse near the ninth green, the others might not have bothered to hit their shots.

Scott couldn’t see how good his shot was, but the crowd hollering let him know it wasn’t bad.

“I just cranked a 3-wood,” said the defending champion. “I thought it was long at first. I didn’t know if it was the right number and then I heard them go crazy.” he said.

Patterson, Overholt and Pearson all hit what would be considered good drives on the hole giving each one a playable second shot to the pin, but none where as good as Scott’s.

His 3-wood ended up barely 10-feet from and a little above the hole.

After the other three took their second shots, two made birdie putts, just in case Scott missed his eagle chance.

He didn’t, center cup for the win.

It was the second straight year Scott won the Budweiser title and the second year he won it with an eagle in a playoff shortly before it was too dark to keep playing.

Last year on the same ninth hole, Scott chipped in from off the green for an eagle and the win,

“Two years in a row, two eagles, it is pretty lucky,” he said.

An amazing part of Scott’s win was he didn’t start the final round in the championship flight.

He was in the first flight and it is very rare to not only jump a flight in the final round, but jump up a flight and win.

“I shot 1- under and had a couple of three putts and I didn’t play wel in the first round. I played better today, but I didn’t think I would be in a playoff. I was in the bar and they had to text me to let me know,” he laughed.

The field at the Budweiser is annually the largest for any weekend amateur tournament in the upstate. This year over 220 golfers competed including a hand full of former champions.

Scott, whose golf game has continued to develop after his playing days for the Blue Hose ended, gives credit to a different attitude about the game than he once had.

“It is great fun to play. It is not the end all and be all. It used to be everything for me in college and after a few years, but now I’m having fun playing. You do your best and take it as it comes,” said the two-time Budweiser Classic champion.

Overall Champion – James Scott, Flight winners included, Championship Flight – Cole Patterson, First Flight – James Scott, Second Flight – Eric Magera, Third Flight – Rick Cobb, Fourth Flight – Chris Arabe, Fifth Flight – Parker Wilton, Sixth Flight – Doug Prescott, Seventh Flight – Jack Obermeier. Eighth Flight – Keith Cockrell, RInger Flight – Sawyer Dover.

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