Robby Shelton wins 13-14 division

For the second straight year, Robby Shelton of Wilmer walked off the Dothan Country Club golf course as a champion.

Shelton, last year’s 11-12 age division winner, captured the 13-14 age division title on Tuesday by shooting a 2-under par 68 for a three-day 203 (69-66-68) at the 60th Annual Press Thornton Future Masters.

Shelton had to hold off a pair of McKinney, Texas, buddies — Branson Davis and Nicholas Robert — to record the victory.
Davis finished a stroke back at 204, while Robert was just behind at 205.

“It feels great,” the soft-spoken Shelton said. “Let’s do it again next year.”

First-round leader Victor Wiggins rebounded from a second-round 75 to post his second 66 of the tourney for the low score of the day. Wiggins, of Gastonia,
N.C., finished fourth.

Rounding out the Top 10 is Jared Bettcher of Auburn at 208, Jacob Harper of Valley at 210, Preston Heyward of Duluth, Ga., at 212, Garrett Marschke of
Suwanne, Ga., at 214, Clancy Waugh of North Palm Beach, Fla., at 214 and Michael Decker of Pebble Beach, Calif., at 215.

With five holes left, Shelton, Robert and Davis were tied at 6-under before Shelton took the lead on No. 15 with a nice birdie putt.

Davis then responded to make it exciting with an absolutely outstanding birdie on No. 16.

After hitting into the bunker to the left of the fairway on his drive, Davis blasted out with an 8-iron and onto the green within a few feet of the hole. He then made
the birdie putt to tie it back up with Shelton.

“I knew I had to hit the green,” Davis said.

But it was on No. 17 where Davis lost his opportunity.

Both Shelton and Davis had nice drives, and then both hit above the flag onto the green with similar putts coming back.

Shelton’s first putt on the par 4 stopped right next to the hole, and he tapped in for par.

Davis went about three feet past the hole with his downhill putt, then missed the short putt back to fall a stroke behind.

“I misread it and didn’t hit it,” Davis said. “My putting was off today.”

On 18, Shelton hit a somewhat short drive in front of the bunker in the left fairway, then hit a great iron shot within a few feet of the hole with the wind whipping.

Shelton then finished off the victory by two-putting for par.

“He’s a great player,” Davis said of the new champion. “It’s hard to beat someone who doesn’t make mistakes.”

Shelton helped St. Paul’s of Mobile to the Class 5A state championship this past spring, leading the team as an eighth grader.
Shelton, who started the final round a stroke behind Davis and Harper, didn’t have a bogey in the round.

“I always try to play steady golf,” Shelton said.

Wiggins, with his final day 66, had six birdies to make up for a tough second round.

“Yesterday (Monday), I just couldn’t make no putts,” Wiggins said. “I just went out and played golf. I didn’t worry about it. It feels great to know I can compete
with these players.”