In Savannah, Caleb Proveaux Wins Oglethorpe Invitational
29 Jul 2017
by Yianni Gogonas of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Caleb Proveaux Rankings
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Oglethorpe Invitational champion Caleb Proveaux (c) with tournament director
Patrick Richardson (left) and Aflac president Kriss Cloninger
SAVANNAH, Georgia (July 29, 2017) — No lead is safe at the Oglethorpe Invitational, where players have posted final round 62s the last two years.
Today it was University of South Carolina golfer, Caleb Proveaux, who came storming from 8-shots back to snatch a three-shot victory from overnight leader Christian Anderson. Proveaux was bogey-free at the 6,700 yard Wilmington Island Club, riding a hot putter to the round of the tournament.
His day began steadily, rattling off three opening pars. The first of his nine birdies came with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 4th hole. He struck again up quickly, rolling in a 20-foot left-breaker for a birdie on the 5th. His birdie on No.8 would move him to 3-under on the day.
Following his par on No. 9, the Carolinian would go unconscious, hitting greens on Nos. 10 through 14, and proceeding to convert all five putts for birdie. His final birdie would come with another perfect roll on No. 17. He finished with a tournament total of 12-under 201 for the 54-hole event.
Proveaux called his round “nothing special” today, and while it might not have broken the course record of 61 shot by former Centre College golfer Chris Morris, it just as easily could have if not for two lip-outs on Nos. 15 and 18.
"It's amazing that the last two years we've had someone shoot 62 in the final round," said tournament director Patrick Richardson, "This shows that with the overall talent of the field, anybody within striking distance has a chance in the final round."
Unfortunately for overnight leader, Christian Anderson, his final hole turned out to be a disaster. The Florida Southern Player dumped a fat approach shot into a hazard, short of the green, which he managed to turn into a triple-bogey, securing the victory for Proveaux. Anderson would have needed to make par to force a playoff.
Proveaux, who’s brother Cody was a four-year starter at Clemson -- recently winning a pro event on the Carolina Mountain Tour -- hopes to ride his streak of hot putting and add to the family’s list of accolades in the coming weeks.
“I have the Palmetto Amateur starting Wednesday. I’m pretty pumped to get that going. My game is pretty good right now. I’ll try to go for back-to-back victories.”