Richmond Am champion Scott Reisenweaver
Photo courtesy of Richmond.com

Reisenweaver and Griffin Clark battled tough pin placements to play a steady round that culminated in Reisenweaver walking off the 18th green with a 1 up victory.

“I think Tim White was watching too much U.S. Open this week,” Reisenweaver joked afterwards, alluding to the seemingly difficult greens of Chambers Bay, the course hosting this year’s U.S Open tournament. White is the club professional at Lake Chesdin.

“It feels great,” Reisenweaver said. “I had no expectations. I just wanted to get to match play and then just wanted to win one match. The old cliche, one day at a time, one match at a time.”

Clark jumped out to an early lead with a birdie on the 383-yard par 4 first hole. He went 2 up with a birdie on the 139-yard par 3 fourth. The deficit became one when Clark hit an errant tee-shot on No. 6 and conceded the hole. Reisenweaver would tee-off first the rest of the way.

Both players pared their way to 384-yard par 4 13th, when Reisenweaver tied the match with a 40-foot birdie putt. “Took me 13 holes to make one,” Reisenweaver said. He hit every green in regulation, “which I think is the first time in my life I’ve ever done that.”

His tee-shot on the 179-yard par 3 15th turned out to be the decisive shot of the match. He used a 5-iron to leave the ball just a few feet from the hole. He knocked it in to go 1 up and held on with pars the rest of the way.

Clark, runner up in this same tournament last year, said he hit the ball well, just couldn’t make the necessary putts down the stretch. He said he admired not only the talents of his opponent, but the competitiveness.

“He’s a hell of a competitor, he really is,” Clark said. “And he was really clutch on the back nine.”

Reisenweaver said he thought about two people in particular during the final round on Father’s Day. His father in Florida, who he said would be one of the first people he called. The other was a friend and fellow RGA Amateur winner - Glenn Mullian.Mullian had to have his right leg amputated at the calf after a car accident in 2011. He returned to the course to win the 2014 National Amputee Golf Association national tournament.

“He inspired me after his accident to go start playing again,” the former mini-tour professional said. He regained amateur status two years ago.

“I lost 25 pounds and started practicing and playing and he’s my inspiration to be here today. Actually hit one of my best shots of the day with two of his clubs that he gave me.”