Chris Waters
(GSGA Photo)

Waters held the lead after a 65 to open the Public Links Championship and never looked back. His 5-under-par 137 (65-72) total was seven strokes better than Billy Mitchell of Roswell, who earned runner-up honors at 2-over-par 144 (74-70).

Waters started the 36-hole competition on fire as he put on a bogey-free, six-birdie performance in Saturday's opening round. Entering the final 18 holes with a five-stroke advantage, he played steady golf which included a birdie and a double-bogey. His 1-over-par 72 on Sunday was more than enough to put his name on the trophy for the second time.

The win his the Atlanta native's second at the Georgia Public Links Championship in three years as he first won the event in 2014 at Nob North Golf Course in Cohutta. Mitchell is a two-time winner in his own right as he went back-to-back in 2010 and 2011 at BridgeMill Athletic Club in Canton and Towne Lake Hills Golf Club in Woodstock, respectively.

Taylor Welborn of LaGrange finished third at 4-over-par 146 (74-72). Four players tied for fourth at 6-over-par 148, including Larry Clark of Kingston (75-73), Ashton Pellicano of Atlanta (74-74), David Noto of Clarkesville (74-74) and Justin Mattheis of Suwanee (71-77). Doug Carter of Martinez finished eighth at 8-over-par 150 (70-80), and Wayne Sutton of Hiawassee finished ninth at 9-over-par 151 (78-73). Rounding out the top 10 were three individuals at 11-over-par 153: Wesley Sheard of Marietta (82-71), Scotty Scott of Hoschton (80-73) and Sterling DeSantis of Alpharetta (77-76).

In the first flight, Dennis Montecalvo of Kennesaw won at 17-over-par 159 (83-76). Doug Cantrell of Powder Springs topped flight two at 21-over-par 163 (80-83). Flight three saw Bill Mann of North Myrtle Beach claimed flight honors at 25-over-par 167 (84-83).

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