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Phoenix Ramsey
Former high school teammates that led Pendleton County to back-to-back regional championships were competitors over the weekend for the Pendleton Hills club championship.
Ramsey took control of the championship early firing a 5-under 31 on the front nine at Pendleton Hills in the first round held on Saturday, June 26.
He fired an even par 36 on the tighter back nine to card a 67 in the first round. That gave him a five stroke lead over former champion, Brett Metzger who shot a 72. Cooper sat tied at third with a one-over 73 with Darren Goad, and Shannon Hundemer.
In the final round played on Sunday, Ramsey birdied the first hole but came back to the field with bogeys on the par 5, #2 and par 3 #3 holes.
Meanwhile Cooper birdied #3 for a two-stroke swing and stood four strokes back with 15 holes to play.
Ramsey would card another bogey on the par 3 #5 while Cooper parred it and the lead was only three.
Both would par the next three holes but Ramsey would birdie the always difficult #9 known for its devilish green and have a four-stroke lead at the turn.
It was a key birdie as a double bogey from Ramsey on the par 5, #11 which follows a small creek following through the course left the lead at a two strokes with seven holes left.
Cooper meanwhile was in a string of pars. Dating back to #4, he had carded nine straight pars till he reach hole #13, par 3 over the lake. Ramsey would also bogey the hole and the his lead over Cooper was till two.
Both would par #14 and #15 and a birdie off the putter of Ramsey on #16 that is tucked in the corner. It was a key birdie that would end up giving Ramsey the cushion he would need.
The last two holes are a downhill par 3, #17 and a par 5 #18 that heads back to the clubhouse.
Cooper would birdie both firing a 69 on the final day of the club championship.
Ramsey meanwhile would par both for a 74 on the final day to hold off his former teammate and friend and claim the 2021 Pendleton Hills Club Championship.
With his victory, he joins his former teammates Cooper and Lane Weaver who have now all won the club championship since 2018.