Hart Brother's Capture Four Ball Championship

When Luke and Adam Hart came to play their finals match against local's Billy Hoylen and Todd Stewart, neither team dreamed of a 24 hole showdown to determine the champion.  But when all was said and done, the Hart brother's and the Hoylen/Stewart tandem had done just that in a battle to the end for the 2005 SCGA Four Ball Championship.

Going out early Sunday morning, Hoylen and Stewart took an early lead with birdie on the first hole.  But Hart and Hart came right back to square the match with a birdie at the par 5 second.  After par's on holes 3, 4, and 5, Hoylen would sink his putt at the par 5 sixth to put his team back on top at 1 up.  But just as soon as the Florence duo got their lead, they quickly lost it, as Luke Hart hit his approach shot at the par 4 eighth to mere inches.  Hoylen and Stewart could neither one capitalize on birdie putts and the match would carry on at all square. 

After turning to the back nine at all square, both teams would battle over the coming holes to take the lead, but neither could do so for long.  The Hart's made birdie to regain the lead at the par 5 eleventh, but Hoylen and Stewart responded with a birdie of their own on the par 4 fourteenth.  Both teams proceeded to make par at the 15th and 16th.  Then at the par 5 seventeenth, both Adam and Luke Hart would see eagle putts inside 15 feet slip away as they again would halve the hole at birdie with their opponents.  

As the match approached the par 4 eighteenth, all four players were within striking distance for birdie.  First to play was Hoylen, who saw his birdie putt slide just past the hole, then Adam Hart would see his short chip shot do just the same.  As Luke Hart rolled his 25 footer on the eighteenth, he would watch as his putt struck the hole and lipped out on the high side to leave his team with par.  As the Hart's stood by, Stewart had his opportunity to close the match, but failed to do so leaving his putt just short in the heart of the cup.

Proceeding forward to extra holes, both the Hart brother's and the Hoylen/Stewart team would battle for matching birdies at the par 4 first.  The two teams would then halve the next four holes going par, birdie, par, par respectively.  Finally, on the par 5 sixth, both Adam and Luke Hart went for the green in two and came up pin high in the greenside bunker.  With Hoylen and Stewart both 50 yards away hitting their third shots, the Hart brothers stood in the bunker and watched.  Hoylen first, then Stewart, both hit their approach shots within 25 feet.  It was then Luke's turn.  Luke would proceed to hit a beautiful high lofted bunker shot to about 5 or 6 feet, then Adam would follow hitting his to within a foot.  As Hoylen and Stewart conceded the putt, the pressure was on, knowing that one of the pair had to make their putt to carry on.  Hoylen, who putted first, would slide his just past the hole and then Stewart would follow in like fashion, giving the Hart brother's their first victory at the 42nd Annual SCGA Four Ball Championship.

The 2005 Four Ball Championship is one of 17 major championships conducted by the South Carolina Golf Association.  The event was played at the Country Club of South Carolina in Florence, South Carolina.

Final Results