HomeTown Lenders Golf Championship- One For The Ages
HUNTSVILLE – After double bogeying the final hole of the tournament and forcing a playoff, Ben Silverman lost on the second hole of the sudden death playoff to Ben Kohles to end the weather-plagued HomeTown Lenders Golf Championship on the 7,114-yard, par 70 course at The Ledges in Huntsville.
Going into the final hole with a two-shot lead, Silverman scored a double bogey while Kohles parred to cause a playoff between the two on the Huntsville stop of the Korn Ferry Tour. In the playoff, the two played hole No.18 where both carded a par. On the second go-round on the par four, 457-yard dogleg left hole, Kohles knocked stiff a seven iron to within three feet of the hole and made birdie while Silverman missed in his attempt to tie and keep the playoff continuing.
Kohles fired a final round 67 while Silverman also had a 67 as both started the day one shot behind Carter Jenkins who shot a final round 72 to finish tied for seventh. Silverman had five birdies on the day and looked to be in control until the final hole of regulation. Kohles posted rounds of 68, 62 and 67 to post a 197 total score in the tournament shortened to 54 holes by inclement weather.
“That was quite the finish there,” said Kohles, hoisting the famed Saturn V Rocket Tournament Trophy after facing winds of up to 30-miles per hour during the final round of action. “I hit it pretty low and I’m really good at flighting my irons. It’s the strength of my game. The windier the better, honestly. It was great to just capitalize today and get the win.”
This was Kohles’ second win on the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour and remains atop the point standings for the Tour. The 33-year old last won 28 days earlier at the Astara Chile Classic. Ironically, his first win of the season also came at the hands of a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. This victory featured just two bogeys in his three rounds played, which was the fewest in the field. He missed five greens during the final round including missing the putting surface on hole 17.
“I pulled it left and thought it went off the mountain,” added Kohles. “We found it down there and kind of fortunate I was able to hit it.” Kohles chipped the ball within 15-feet and made the par saving putt keeping him within two strokes of Silverman.
On the final hole of regulation, Silverman hooked the ball left, which put him in the penalty area along the mountain side and forced him into a drop and pitch out to the fairway. He hit the green in four and two-putted for his double bogey. Kohles also missed the green on 18, but was able to get up and down to tie the score and force the playoff.
“Obviously Ben kind of gave me a little gift there on the last hole,” added Kohles. “He played great all week, and I was fortunate to close it out in the playoff.”
The final scores of the top players included:
Ben Kohles -13, 68-62-67- 197
Ben Silverman -13, 66-64-67- 197
David Skinns -12, 69-64-65- 198
Frankie Capan III -12, 68-64-66
