Luke VanDeventer tries to sink a putt on No. 18 at Greenbelt during Sunday’s final round of the Men’s City Golf Tournament.
Ted Schultz | The Republic
Luke VanDeventer seemed to be in control of the Men’s City Golf Tournament until running into a little trouble midway through his second time around Greenbelt’s nine-hole track.
Bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16 allowed Andrew McComb to move into a first-place tie with VanDeventer. But then VanDeventer sank an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 17 and parred No. 18 to claim his first city championship.
“I made some silly mistakes,” VanDeventer said. “I could probably really have avoided those bogeys, but I just kept my head down, and I told myself, ‘Hey, it’s not over yet. We still have two holes.’ I put myself in really good position to make a birdie on (17) and made it and also on (18). It was a good way to finish out.”
VanDeventer held a one-shot lead over McComb after carding a 70 in Saturday’s opening round, also at Greenbelt. Both players shot even-par 72 on Sunday.
“It was a great battle with Andrew,” VanDeventer said. “I thought we were even with each other going into the last hole. I didn’t know I had a one shot lead going into that last hole. I made a god birdie on (17), and then going into (18), I put myself in position to make birdie and ended up making a par, and that was good enough to get it done today.”
McComb was playing in his first full city tournament after he withdrew because of injury after the first round last year.
“I thought I had a shot,” McComb said. “I’ve known Luke for a long time, and he’s a great golfer, and I knew I had my work cut out for me trying to keep up with him. He hits it a long, long way. I knew I had to hit some good shots and hope for some good breaks, and Luke was just too much today. I’m happy for him, and I’m satisfied with the second-place finish today.”
VanDeventer’s older brother Paul, a former Wright State golfer and a Centerville, Ohio, resident, finished third at 145 after a 73 on Sunday. Maverick Jones finished fourth at 148, followed by Danny Holcomb at 149, Brady Schneider at 150 and Ross Pushor at 151.
Luke VanDeventer is a former Columbus North golfer who played his first two years of college golf at Vincennes University before transferring to Huntington University. He is entering his senior year at Huntington.
“It means a lot to me,” Luke VanDeventer said. “I’ve been wanting to win this tournament for awhile. With a runner-up finish last year, I was determined to come back and win it this year.”
Meanwhile, Steve Lewis defended his senior division title with a 70-76—146. He won by two shots over Jim Wright.
Lewis bounced back from a 41 on the front nine Sunday with a 35 on the back.
“I just couldn’t hit the driver today,” Lewis said. “On the back, I didn’t hit it, and I shot under par. On the front, it was terrible. But I enjoyed it.”
Former Columbus East golfer Jamall Starks, who played football as a freshman at University of Indianapolis last fall, had the round of the day. His 2-under-par 70 gave him the First Flight title.
Tyler Dillingham, who will be a sophomore at North, won the second flight with an 86-82—168.
Men’s city golf scores
Championship Flight
Luke VanDeventer;70-72—142
Andrew McComb;71-72—143
Paul VanDeventer;72-73—145
Maverick Jones;71-77—148
Danny Holcomb;75-74—149
Brady Schneider;73-77—150
Ross Pushor;75-76—151
Jeremy Pushor;78-18—156
Nate VanDeventer;78-85—163
Mason Reeves;78-86—164
First Flight
Jamall Starks;83-70—153
BJ Arbuckle;81-77—158
Carter Greene;82-77—159
Andy Rutan;79-83—162
Mike Enneking;80-83—163
Brad Luedeke;82-81—163
Price Allman;82-82—164
Walker Thomas;83-84—167
Luke Rice;85-84—169
Carter Battin;81-93—174
Second Flight
Tyler Dillingham;86-82—168
Ryder Allman;88-85—173
Bryan Fuel;91-88—181
Jason Rice;89-94—183
Matt White;89-95—184
James Lane;91-94—185
Matthew Hager;95-94—189
Luke Enneking;94-102—196
Jon Reeves;99-98—197
Senior Division
Steve Lewis;70-76—146
Jim Wright;72-76—148
Charlie Miller;79-84—163
Jim Smith;82-85—167
John Smith;83-87—170
Bob Pearson;85-87—172
John West;85-93—178
Ron Dinn;85-91—176
Steve Chinn;87-89—176
Jerry Moore;87-94—181
Kelly Daugherty;93-99—192
Jerry Duncan;104-111—205
Larry Pushor;77-WD
