Former Richmond Hill High School golfer Tyler Steptoe won the inaugural Sterling Links Golf Course championship on Sunday in Richmond Hill.
Steptoe, 20, and now a member of the Shorter University golf team, finished with a two-day total of 146, two strokes ahead of Jeff Cowart.
"It feels great to win," Steptoe said. "Jeff played well. He was pushing me at the end."
Cowart trailed Steptoe and WJCL weatherman Jeff Kirk, who carded 74s on Saturday, by 3 strokes heading into Sunday's final round. He then fired a 1-under-par 71 on the last day to make a run at the lead.
But Steptoe finished even par and credited three straight birdie putts - including a 40-footer - on holes 6, 7 and 8 for helping seal the win.
"That kind of propelled me ... I was able to get a little separation and stay two strokes ahead," he said.
Kirk turned in a 76 on the final round to finish 4 strokes off the pace.
In the senior championship flight, Sam Stewart shot 157 over the weekend to place first. John Hopkins was runner up with a two-day total of 163.
In the super senior flight, Marvin Straw won by three strokes over Andy Anderson. The two men scored 155 and 158 during the tournament, respectively.
In all, 91 golfers took part in the tournament, the first for members at Sterling Creek.
"Everything went real well," said Chris Darieng, director of operations at the course. "We couldn't have asked for a better tournament."
This is the fifth year Sterling Links has been open, he said, and plans for a tournament to crown club champions began to take shape two years ago. The turnout was gratifying, he added.
"Really, over last two years we got the course in what I would consider championship golf course shape," Darieng said. "I think we had one of if not the biggest course championships in the area in our first tournament."
Results:
Championship flight:
Tyler Steptoe 74-72 - 146
Jeff Cowart 77-71 - 148
Jeff Kirk 74-76 - 150
Lane Pate 79-78 - 157
Jeff Jordan 77-80 - 157
Grant Black 77-81 - 158
Doug Fairchild 80-78 -- 158
Brooks Lanigan 77-83 - 160
Tim Saia 78-82 - 160
Allen Davis 80-78 - 164
Super Seniors Championship Flight
Marvin Straw 72-83 - 155
Andy Anderson 76-82 - 158
Robin Christy 84-84 - 168
Don Bennett 88-83 -- 171
Bud Knight 91-83 - 174
Gene Durant 96-101 - 197
Jake Mullins 98-100 - 198
George Halbrock 99-101 - 200
Jimmy Johnson 100-110 - 210
Senior Championship Flight
Sam Stewart 81-76 - 157
John Hopkins 79-84 - 163
Dale Drake 86-83 - 169
Jack Johnson 81-91 - 172
Tom Sasser 88-91 - 179
Rob Gray 86-97 - 183
John Howell 88-96 - 184