BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (June 6, 2010) -- Amateurgolf.com member Christian Raynor of Kennesaw, Georgia brought home a big win today, posting a final round of 67 (total of 212) at the Country Club of Birmingham to top a strong field at the Birmingham National Invitational. Michael Morrison was two strokes back at 212, while veteran amateur Tim Jackson finished third at 216.
Raynor rode a hot putter home over the weekend -- he required only 29 putts on Saturday and an amazing 25 putts on Sunday.
"I haven't been in contention much the last several years so it was nice to play well under the gun and get a win," said Raynor in an email interview. "The course was playing tough all three days so I knew something around even par for the tournament was going to be a good score."
Raynor birdied holes 8, 9, 10, and 12 on Sunday to get to 4-under for the day, then bogeyed the 13th hole (a 195 yard par 3 with water on the right) and made straight pars through 17.
Raynor gave full credit to playing competitor Michael Morrison, who battled right to the end.
"He had it in there (on 18) about 8 feet for birdie so I knew I had to two putt to win. I hit the putt a little too hard but it had good line and luckily it went in. If it would have missed the hole it would have been 6-8 past the hole and we probably would have been headed for a playoff."
Meanwhile, Jackson's friend from Jackson, Tennessee, Danny Green, had an easy time in winning the senior division, despite stumbling (for him at least) to a final round of 74. That's because entering the final round, he was lapping the field by a full 11 strokes after strong rounds of 67-69. Not taking away anything from Grady Brame of Hammond, Louisiana - he posted final rounds of 71-71 and was able to close the margin of victory by 3 strokes over the course of the final 18 holes.
NOTE: Scores were posted by Brian Hillsinger, PGA
ABOUT THE
Birmingham National Invitational
This 54-hole stroke play event, formerly
held the weekend after Memorial Day but moved to
November in 2020, dates back to
the early 1900's and is also known as the "NIT". Draws
a field of national-level mid-amateurs.
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