Bt Stan Olenik. Editor-Publisher. The Golf Club

After nine holes of the 48th Greater Greer Open, it looked like Connor Moore might turn the tournament into a runaway.

Instead, he had to chase.

And then he had to hold on.

The former Charleston Southern standout used a blistering start to put himself in position, then survived a back-nine grind and took advantage of a key mistake by Adam Black to claim his first Greater Greer Open title.

“I started about as hot as I could,” said Moore. “An eagle and four birdies in my first nine holes, but the back nine is very different here.”

While Moore grabbed early attention, the leaderboard told a different story by day’s end.

Matt Wiggins surged into the lead with a 6-under 66, recovering from an opening bogey by pouring in seven birdies. Black, a proven winner on the Upstate circuit, positioned himself just behind, setting up a final-round showdown.

Moore, despite his fast start, found himself four shots back.

Sunday quickly erased Wiggins’ advantage. A double bogey and a bogey over his first two holes dropped him out of the lead, while Black caught fire with four birdies on the front nine to take control at the turn.

From there, it became a two-man battle.

Moore didn’t match his opening-round fireworks, but his steady play kept him within striking distance as Black continued to roll in putts.

The turning point came at the 12th.

Black drove a ball out of bounds, and Moore capitalized with a birdie, flipping a deficit into a one-shot lead in a three-shot swing that ultimately decided the tournament.

“This course, anything can happen on the back nine,” Moore said. “My dad told me before the round, you don’t need to be a rabbit until 18—just stay there and let it come to you.”

Moore did exactly that.

He added one more birdie coming in and played the rest of the closing stretch in control, finishing with a routine par on the final hole to secure a two-shot victory.

“I was runner-up a couple of years ago and didn’t play well last year,” he said. “It feels good to finish it off this time.”

Moore, who recently completed a graduate degree in biomechanics at Clemson and now lives in Atlanta, said he plans to return to defend his title.

“I love playing this course,” he said. “I’ll be back.”

Wagner wins Senior Division

Duff Wagner of Taylors captured the Senior Division title, finishing two shots clear of the field.

Playing in the event for the first time, Wagner posted matching rounds of 1-under 71 to secure the win.

“I’d never played in the GGO before the senior division,” Wagner said. “The course was in great shape and the competition was strong.”

Tom Owens of Greer finished second, with Simpsonville’s Yancey Johnson in third.

Scores from the GGO are avaiiable at https://greenvillecga.bluegolf.com/bluegolfw/greenvillecga26/event/greenvillecga262/contest/5/leaderboard.htm

Keep up with local and Carolinas golf news. Get all our posts sent to your email. Subscribe to http://www.SCgolfclub.com

Your enaill will only be used to send you our latest posts