Monday, Jun. 16, 2008

McAllister rallies to win Match Play title

COLUMBIA — Tripp McAllister birdied the last hole to beat Brent Roof, 1-up, to win the South Carolina Match Play Championship on Sunday at Spring Valley Country Club.

McAllister, a Coastal Carolina rising sophomore from Lake City, made a 25-footer for his only lead of the day on the final hole. Roof, from Columbia, went 2-up after 13 holes before McAllister won the 14 hole. On the 15th hole, his drive hit a cart path and bounced into a water hazard, leaving Roof to win the hole and go back 2-up.

But McAllister won the 16th hole when Roof’s tee shot on the par-3 was buried under the lip of a bunker. On the 17th hole, Roof’s tee shot was lost and McAllister was able to tie the match going to the 18th.