Dramatic finish at inaugural golf tournament

Bartram Trail Golf Club played host to the first-ever Columbia County Junior Golf Championships last week. With more than 160 competitors in five different age groups competing for the top prizes, it was fitting that a hometown boy took the age 16-18 title - and he did it in dramatic fashion.

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Jacob Tilton, a 16-year-old rising junior at Evans High School, beat out two former Greenbrier golfers in a one-hole playoff to win the inaugural trophy.

Tilton, who was in back of both Parker Gordon and Chris Hall heading into the final two holes of play on Thursday, came from behind to win.

A chip-in for eagle on the 17th hole gave Tilton all the momentum he needed. The miracle chip came moments after he called the shot.

"I was just joking around. I didn't expect to make it," he said. "But then five feet from the hole it started rolling like a putt. That's exactly the way I wanted to hit it."

The eagle moved Tilton to within one stroke of the leaders, and a birdie putt on the 18th hole forced a three-way playoff. Tilton outdrove his competitors off the tee on the first hole and sank a 10-foot putt for a birdie and the tournament victory.

Tilton, who shot a total of 142, wasn't the only tournament champion at the Columbia County Junior Golf Championships. The two-day tournament featured competitions in five different age groups.

William Sigg, who took first place in the 13-15 age division, posted the best score of the tournament among all golfers. He shot a two-round total of 136 to beat Tyler Duke by one stroke.

In the age 11-12 division, Greyson Sigg took the trophy with an even-par 142.

Carter Mobley won the 9-10 year old division with an 18-hole total of 72, while Kendall Mann took first place in the age 6-8 division with a round of 73.