SCRUGGS -- Add a large batch of amateurs in the Roanoke Valley to a similar group in Durham, N.C., who dearly wished Brandon LaCroix had remained a golf professional.
LaCroix, who didn't regain his amateur status until last month, racked up his second victory in two weeks, firing a brilliant final-round 4-under-par 67 at Waterfront on Sunday to capture his second Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame men's championship.
Two Sundays after winning the Durham Amateur, LaCroix stormed from four shots behind to tie for the lead, then emerged victorious by two shots when 15-year-old Ryan Davis four-putted the final hole for a double-bogey 6.
It capped an up-and-down week for LaCroix, who opened with a 69 Friday at Hunting Hills and then skied to a 77 in Saturday's second round at Hidden Valley. He bogeyed the first hole Sunday to fall five shots back, but responded by playing the final 17 holes in 5-under to finish with a winning 54-hole total of 1-over 213.
"I know I still have game, but the game is erratic," said LaCroix, 27, who won his first HOF men's title in 1998. "Right now, I could go shoot 64 or I could go shoot 80, and who knows what day that's going to be.
"While these young guys play all the time, Merrill Lynch has all my practice time," added a laughing LaCroix, referring to his Roanoke-based job as a financial consultant.
Well, the smart money was on the ex-Duke golfer this time. While he may not be the hot blue-chip commodity he once was, LaCroix desperately wanted to prove that he has the skills and smarts to still hang with the best amateurs around here and in other areas.
"I really wanted that tournament two weeks ago in Durham for Coach [Rod] Myers," said LaCroix, referring to his old Duke golf coach who passed away recently. "And for a lot of guys around here, this is the tournament. So I really wanted it, too."
He did it by posting two of the five rounds in the 60s carded by the field in the three-day event. Still, he needed some unexpected help from Davis on the 54th hole.
Davis, bidding to become the youngest player ever to win the event, started the day tied for the lead at 1-over with Blacksburg's Lanto Griffin.
While Davis' more celebrated final-group playing partners -- Griffin and defending champion Aaron Eckstein were shooting 77 and 76, respectively -- the 15-year old was even-par for his round until the final hole.
After his approach to Waterfront's uphill par-4 18th went about 5 feet long onto the collar of the green, Davis needed to get up and down from 35 feet to tie LaCroix and force a playoff. Davis' putt didn't have enough gas to clear a hump in the green and his ball trickled back another 10 feet, effectively doubling the length of what would have been about a 10-foot par putt. After being informed by his father, Don, that he needed to make the 20-footer to tie, Davis pulled his putt and ran it 4 1/2 feet past the hole. He missed the comebacker, although it made no difference.
"I thought [Davis] would get it up and down and we'd be playing some more," said LaCroix, who watched the teenager's last-hole mishap from the cart parking lot.
Davis, who will be a rising sophomore at Salem High next fall, finished with a 73 that left him at 215.
"It was a huge breaker, a very tough putt," Davis said. "I just didn't hit it hard enough."
Still, it's hard to rap the second-youngest player in the field. Showing unbelievable mental toughness for his age, Davis was rock solid for 53 holes. While the double at 18 may haunt him for a day or two, he left Smith Mountain Lake knowing he can play with anyone in this area.
"For my age, how can I be disappointed?" said a grinning Davis. "Second isn't bad. I really wish I would have won. But you can't be disappointed with second. I mean I'm barely in high school and the rest of these guys are way past me in school. I'll be around for a while, don't worry."
Proving how savvy he is already, Davis made it a point to thank his swing teacher, Roanoke Country Club pro Steve Prater, for making him such a force so quickly.
"Steve Prater taught me, he taught Lanto, and he taught Meredith [Swanson], who won the [HOF] women's crown [Sunday]. Prater helped me come up with a game plan today before the round that helped keep me in there. Hey, this is great experience for me. You can't buy this anywhere. I'm happy."
John Newton, 48, carded a final-day 70 to take third at 216.
Newton helped his new club, Hidden Valley, roll to the team title by 29 shots over runner-up Hunting Hills,
"As far as Hidden Valley goes, I'm just glad to help them out," Newton said. "We've got so many good players ... with Aaron Eckstein, Fielding Brewbaker, Jack Allara and Roy Foutz."
Griffin, who shared the lead following a 67 Saturday at Hidden Valley, started bogey, quadruple bogey and bogey and was never a factor.
He made four birdies on the back to salvage a 76 that left tied with two-time champion Scott Wise (73) and Foutz at 218.
