Hall hopes eventful year continues with Springfield City Am title

Jeff Hall has had an eventful year. He started a career in the business world by becoming a sales accountant at Speedway in February and then, four months later, became engaged to longtime girlfriend Jenna Erwin.

Of the two, his proposal caused by far the most angst. He took a knee on the first green at Springfield Country Club while the two were playing a casual round with friends. And even though he was confident she’d say yes, Hall admits, “I was a mess.”

When the group finally teed off on the par-5 second hole, Hall was still as nervous as Barney Fife with a bullet.

“I rolled it about 150 yards and barely got it over the creek,” he said with a laugh. “She was playing the men’s tees that day also. She hit it about 260 or 270 yards and ended up making an eagle.”

Hall, 25, probably won’t hit many ground-huggers when he competes in the 89th annual Springfield City Am at Reid Park over the next two weekends.

»RELATED: Wells captures 2017 City Am

He’s finished third the last two years in the 72-hole tourney and battled eventual winner Luke Wells down the stretch for the title last summer.

Tied with five holes to go on the North Course, Hall found himself above the cup on treacherous greens at 14 and 15 and three-putted both times. Needing a birdie at 16, he raced a 20-footer past the hole, missed the comebacker and walked off with another bogey.

The steady Wells, a senior-to-be at Springfield High School, churned out pars to finish at 6-under 282 and beat Zack Fowler by three and Hall by four.

About 70 golfers in all divisions will tee it up Saturday. In a change from last year, the super-seniors (70 and older), seniors, juniors and women will play 36-hole tourneys with their champions crowned Sunday.

Wells won’t defend his title because of golfing commitments elsewhere, while Fowler also is skipping the event. But that doesn’t necessarily make Hall the favorite.

The three-time Locust Hills club champion will be challenged by a stout field that includes Southeastern grad Avery Green , one of the state's top prep golfers last year who will play for Division-I Northern Kentucky this fall.

»RELATED: Southeastern’s Green state runner-up

The two currently compete in a Locust Hills league run by former Cedarville University women’s basketball coach Kirk Martin. Green’s nine-hole average is 33, while Hall’s is 34.

“There’s always pressure when you’re playing golf tournaments. Anybody can shoot well on any given day. It all depends on who shows up and plays that day,” Hall said.

Working through the week has forced Hall to cut back on golf, but he’s just as sharp as ever.

“Taking some time off has really done me some good,” he said. “I’ve gotten to work on smaller aspects of my game because I don’t have a lot of time now. I think it’s really helped.”

Having balance in his life probably has made a difference, too.

Of his pending nuptials, he said with a chuckle: “I’m glad she loves the game just as much as I do, so I’ll still get to play when I’m older.”

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