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Wednesday, Jul. 08, 2009

Greer leads golfers to Columbus

PERRY - Riding the momentum of a qualifying win in Forsyth, Mitch Greer leads a contingent of local golfers who hope to contend for the 88th annual Georgia Amateur Golf Championship this week in Columbus. The four-day event begins Thursday at the Country Club in Columbus.

Joining Greer will be a pair of golfers who play out of Landings Golf Club. Tyler Erickson and Ben Kishigian both earned berths at the event with their performancea at one of the final qualifiers in Duluth.

Greer earned his spot by winning a June 2 qualifier at The Club at River Forest. He shot a 3-under-par 68 and was the only player to post red numbers.

“I played good,” Greer said. “I hit it really good on the back (nine). I had four birdies on the back. ... (I played) at my potential or a little above.”

This is Greer’s second Georgia Amateur. He missed the 36-hole cut in Savannah in 2006. Greer said he hopes the experience gained during that event will pay off this week.

“I kind of got frustrated when things got going bad,” Greer said. “You can’t do that. The course is going to win every time.”

An accountant with the Macon firm of Mauldin and Jenkins, Greer is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where he didn’t play golf, and the Westfield School, where he did. As a Hornet, Greer was a three-time all-region selection and was twice named honorable mention all-state.

At 25, Greer is already a two-time club champion at his home course, Houston Lake Country Club and the current reigning champ. He hopes experience gained on that course, as well as the qualifier, serves him well this week.

“Tournament golf is a lot different then going out and playing on the weekend,” he said. “You’ve got to have all parts of your game working.”

Erickson is no stranger to the Country Club of Columbus. He said he’s played half-a-dozen rounds there during junior competitions. The Warner Robins graduate downplayed the importance of that advantage, but he did say “I know where I need to put the ball.”

Erickson added that he’s had a busy competitive year and likes the way he’s playing.

“My ball striking is really good,” he said. I need to work on my putting. ... As long as I stay focused and don’t have any mental errors, I should be able to post some good scores.”

Erickson’s father, Dan, qualified as an alternate, but will probably pass on the event, according to his son.

Contact Chris Deighan at cdeighancox.net