CARTERSVILLE (Ga.) – Team Arkansas pulled off a stunning comeback victory at the Golfweek International Senior Invitational held at Cartersville Country Club, beating Team Ireland and the two star-powered Georgia teams.
Gordy McKeown has been friends with his teammates Stan Payne, and Wes McNulty, for over 40 years. McKeown’s dad, George, taught the three how to play at Pine Bluff Country Club, in Pine Bluff Arkansas. George McKeown played in four majors. He became a lifetime member of the PGA of America and was inducted in the Arkansas Golf Association Hall of Fame of Fame in 2001.
George died in 2014 at the age 76. McKeown lost his father but Payne, McNulty and McNulty also lost the man that introduced them to competitive Golf.
Payne told that it was a privilege to play on a golf course of this caliber and win.
For Saturday’s final, Team Arkansas relied on the lessons George taught them in their youth. This was more than 40 years earlier.
McNulty said in Golfweek that they knew the course would be extremely challenging. They knew that if they hit the ball on the greens, and then two-putted it, there was a good chance of winning. Our scores were a testament to that. We didn’t go low-low, but we kept our score around par. That was the goal today. It’s a testimony to the golf course. It’s an amazing golf course. It’s a jewel .”
Arkansas was only one shot behind Team Ireland, the 36-hole leader. Joe Lyons, the eventual winner, was leading the charge, and his teammates Karl Bornemann, John Reynolds, and John Reynolds were also playing well. It seemed that Ireland would only need one shot to win the tournament.
Arkansas was able to maintain its momentum with a team score of 139. McNulty’s (3 under) and Payne’s (2 under) scores counted, while McKeown was the odd man out with his 1 under 71. Team Arkansas was able to move up into second place after the combined rounds. They were also in a good position to surpass Team Ireland, who had been leading for 36 holes.
The final round of the weekend brought cool temperatures, wind gusts as high as 25 miles an hour and pristine greens at Cartersville Country club.
Arkansas, who were even par at the turn, made their move in the back nine. Payne and McNulty combined five birdies with an eagle to give Team Arkansas a four shot victory and the team title.
McNulty: “We were in Whataburger yesterday night, and we talked about George Gordy’s father,” McNulty said. “And did he imagine that for us? I think he probably did.” He wanted us all to be able to play at the highest level of golf and do these activities together .”
McKeown added, “That was his main thing.” “He wanted us all to do it together .”
With a little help from George, Team Arkansas who have over 13 USGA starts in their collective history, could take home a win as a team and create a bond lasting a lifetime.
