Joe Lemieux (Norman Transcript photo)

Having his senior season cut short due to COVID-19 just as countless college athletes have around the country; the University of Central Oklahoma Broncho is making the most of his summer before he heads back to take advantage of an extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA.

“I figured I’d give it a shot since we really didn’t have much to play in this summer,” Lemieux told AmateurGolf.com.

Playing in his third tournament over the past two weeks, Lemieux missed the cut by a stroke at the Oklahoma Stroke Play and snagged a top-5 finish at The Railer last week before heading South on I-35 to make the 45-minute drive from Edmond, Oklahoma to Norman, Oklahoma.

Posting an opening-round 5-under 65, Lemieux was tied for second and just one off the leader as the heat index climbed near 110-degrees Fahrenheit on Friday. Following it with a 68, Lemieux was tied with 2019 champ Luke Phillips and J.D. Metzger as they headed into the final round. Seven golfers were within three shots of the leaders, making for an interesting Sunday morning.

Metzger fell away early as he posted a 37/35 split for a 2-over Sunday. As the final group came down the stretch, the stage was primed for Lemieux and Phillips.

Phillips lipped out a 3-foot par putt on the par-3 17th, giving Lemieux a one-stroke lead heading in the 54th and final hole.

With the duo pacing off similar 20-foot birdie putts, Phillips lagged his put to gimmie-range and knocked his in for par. Knowing where he stood, Lemieux did not bat an eye. Perfectly paced, the putt fell, giving Lemieux a two-stroke victory and his second win at the Westwood Invitational (2017).

Not resting on his laurels, Lemieux is getting right back at it on Monday as he’s playing an Oklahoma State Amateur qualifier before heading to Hattiesburg, Mississippi as he’s a part of the field at the Magnolia. Returning a favor for his friend and rising Oklahoma junior Logan McAllister as he’ll be on the bag for McAllister at the Southern Amateur at Maridoe.