Missing the cut in 21 of 26 events the last three seasons on the Hooters Tour has made life difficult for aspiring touring pro Billy Wingerd. Attracting financial backing, to continue playing mini-tour golf, has been even tougher.
But Wednesday at Chartwell Golf and Country Club, Wingerd bought himself at least a few more months chasing his dream as he earned the biggest check of his golf career, winning the 86th Maryland Open.
Rolling in a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Wednesday, the Baltimore native pumped his fist as he edged defending champion Chip Sullivan by one stroke to collect $8,100.
“The well is drying up. I’m having trouble raising money,” said Wingerd, 24. “But with a win like this, maybe people will be willing to help me out.”
Wingerd did it with a stirring rally, making three birdies on the last four holes to overcome a two-stroke deficit. Wingerd finished with a 6-under-par 65, the best round of the three-day event and completed the tournament 10-under par.
It was a quality victory over a tough opponent. Sullivan has PGA Tour experience and last month won the PGA Club Professional Championship in Sunriver, Ore. He also had captured the Maryland Open three of the previous five years.
“He laid on some birdies at the end,” said Sullivan, 42. “In a pressure situation, he made a good putt to win it. Hats off to him.”
Sullivan, head pro at Ashley Plantation in Roanoke, Va., lost on a day when he shot a 69. Still, he opened the door for Wingerd by bogeying No. 18, a 494-yard par 4. When Sullivan missed the fairway, he got a “terrible lie,” pulled his approach left and failed to make a 12-foot putt to save par.
Meanwhile, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Wingerd blasted his drive 340 yards down the middle, then hit an 8-iron hole high to set up his winning putt.
“It helped a lot that Chip had to putt first,” said Wingerd, who graduated from Overlea High and Towson University. “When he missed, it allowed me to relax. I knew I was in a playoff even if I missed.”
Wingerd reduced Sullivan’s lead to one stroke on No. 15 when he hit his approach to within a foot, but gave it back with a bogey on No. 16 as he chilly-dipped a chip, leaving it in the rough. But on No. 17, Wingerd rebounded with a 5-iron to within 15 feet and making the putt to get back to within a stroke.
“It feels unbelievable,” said Wingerd, who won the 2004 Maryland Amateur. “I’ll play three or four Hooters events, then save the rest of the money for Q-School.”
