Texas Public Links: Nolen downs Griffin in final
EULESS, Tex. (June 1, 2014) -- The championship match took place this morning between the No. 5 seed Stratton Nolen and No. 2 seed Will Griffin. Teeing off early this morning at 7:30 A.M., both players were looking to claim the Public Links title at Texas Star Golf Course.
With great scoring conditions, Stratton and Griffin both brought their best as the match remained all square through seven holes. Griffin grabbed the first lead on eight with a par and remained 1 up through nine holes.
Nolen made four birdies in the first five holes on the back nine to snatch the lead from Griffin to be up one with four to play. Nolen looked to go two up on fourteen after he drained a 25 foot putt for birdie but was followed up by Griffin with a birdie of his own.
Stratton Nolen defeated Will Griffin on the seventeenth hole, 2&1 after Griffin was unable to better Nolen’s bogey.
Nolen, who is a two-time player of the year on the Legends Junior Tour and the 2011 Texas State Junior Champion, can now add the 2014 State Public Links Champion to his resume. After the round, Nolen stated, “The victory hasn’t sunk it yet, but it definitely feels good to be back in the winning column.” He also went on to say, “I owe it to my coach for setting me on a new system, for which it is starting to show off.”
With their wins in the semifinals, Will Griffin and Stratton Nolen have received exemptions to this year’s Texas State Amateur which is going to be held at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas, June 12-15th.