Golf: Springfield High School junior wins City Amateur

Luke Wells ended a streak of 15 straight pars over two days at the City Amateur when he pulled his drive into a hazard on Reid North’s 13th hole in the final round Sunday.

Just as he was lining up a 10-footer for bogey, a freight train went roaring by on a terrace above the green, clattering so loud that it drowned out all other noises – even the chatter in Wells’ head.

RELATED: Austin Sipe wins Ohio Am at Springfield County Club

“It kind of helped with the train going by,” he said. “I couldn’t hear my own thoughts. It made me just hit it and not think about anything. I’m thankful for that conductor.”

The junior-to-be at Springfield High School never went off the rails after that, finishing with a 1-under-par 71 for a six-under 282 total, winning by three shots.

A top-five finish last year gave him hope that he could beat the best male golfers in the area. Never too flashy, he forces opponents to string birdies together to beat him.

“I make a lot of two-putt pars. I probably have 12 per round,” he said. “It’s hard to make a mistake when you’ve got 30 feet for birdie.”

He started the day with a two-shot lead but was tied with Jeff Hall after his lone bogey. Hall, a 24-year-old Shawnee High School product, three-putted three straight holes after that, failing to take advantage of an exquisite display from tee to green.

“The ball-striking was there, but the putting wasn’t,” said Hall, a three-time club champion at Locust Hills. “I hit the ball great. I just didn’t make any putts.”

The Reid North greens are immaculate, but they can be treacherous because of their slopes and speed. Wells, though, had no trouble mastering them.

“He’s really steady,” Hall said. “He’s down the middle, on the green and ho-hums it around for par.”

Hall shot 73 and finished third for the second-straight year. His bogeys at 14,15 and 16 allowed defending champion Zack Fowler to claim second place with a 73.

Wells, who finished in a tie for fourth at the Ohio Amateur on Friday, has a good pedigree. His father, Chris Wells, was a fixture on the leaderboard of past City Ams, finishing as high as second.

“I felt solid,” Luke said. “At first, they were firing at me. I was like, ‘Whoa.’ Jeff was 2-under through three and Zack made a birdie at No. 2.

“But I try not to look at what other guys are doing. I just play my game. I knew I could do it if I played well, and I did.”

Though only 16, he’s not the youngest City Am winner. Former Wayne High School and Ohio State star Michael Bernard prevailed at age 14 and 15.

Told about Bernard, the newly crowned champ arched his eyebrows and said, “That’s impressive.”

So was Wells’ week.

OTHER WINNERS

Laaci Miller won her second women’s City Am title Sunday by shooting 75 on the South Course to go with an opening 84 on the North. She won by 14 shots over Kathy Lee (85-88), who was the women’s senior champ.

Anne Holtz (90-84) and Donna Warfield (93-87) finished third and fourth, respectively.

Alan Collins, who runs Reid Park with Jim Kincaid, won the men’s senior crown by one after shooting a 78 on the North and posting a 302 total.

Luke Wells also was the junior winner, while Bryce Baumgardner was the runner-up.

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