Armstrong claims third Ridgefields Invitational title

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – It was an unusual start to the Final Round of the 74th Ridgefields Invitational on Sunday. Blake Adams and Lucas Armstrong entered the afternoon tied atop the leaderboard a six-under.

But, by tee time, Armstrong found himself up four strokes.

Adams was disqualified ahead of the round for missing the 12:40 p.m. start, leaving Armstrong and Nick Cohen to battle it out.

“It was a big change of events there early,” Armstrong said after his round.

Armstrong persevered, however, tightening up his game over the last few holes to secure his third Ridgefields Invitational victory with a score of 211 (-5).

Cohen looked to be in control for much of the day, as he was five-under through the first 12 holes. Armstrong was one-over.

“I knew I had to get something going,” Armstrong explained.

The tides turned on No. 16, as Armstrong managed a birdie, while a tee shot off the cart path forced Cohen into a triple-bogey.

“Unfortunately, he had a little bit of a bad break on 16 and I caught back up to him,” Armstrong said.

Cohen finished his round with a one-under, 71, with a three-day total of 213 (-3) – just two shots back of Armstrong.

“Nick is a good guy – we’re good friends,” Armstrong said. “We play a lot together. He played well this week and I told him after we finished up I said ‘we’ll do it again next week.’ He got me last year at The Tillinghast, so I got him this year here.”

Carter Wolfe shot a 68 on Sunday to finish in third place with a 214 (-2). The 2023 champion, Brandon Worley, carded a 213 (-1) for a fourth-place finish. Ben Treadway rounded out the Top 5 at even par (216).

Cary Daniels, Mike Poe and Tony Green all finished with a 216 in the Senior Championship Flight. But, it was Daniels that earned the title by defeating his competitors in a playoff.

Jerry Matthew cruised to the Super Senior Championship with a score of 148.

Many of the Championship Flight golfers will be back together again next weekend for The Tillinghast Invitational from Johnson City Country Club.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.