Lanto Griffin Wins State Open At Ballyhack By Six Shots

Lanto Griffin hits his second shot Saturday on the par-4 16th at Ballyhack, on his way to a 6-shot victory in the Delta Dental State Open of Virginia.
Lanto Griffin hits his second shot Saturday on the par-4 16th at Ballyhack, on his way to a 6-shot victory in the Delta Dental State Open of Virginia.

Lanto Griffin headed into Saturday’s final round of the Delta Dental State Open of Virginia seemingly on cruise control after a two-round, 134-total that had the Blacksburg golfer five shots clear of the closest challenger.

After a tentative outward nine Saturday on the tough Ballyhack Golf Club par-72 layout, Griffin put the pedal to the metal on the inward nine, rolling to a convincing six-shot victory over Roanoke amateur Justin Young, Evan Beck and 3-time defending champion Jay Woodson.
Griffin’s 54-hole, minus-12, 204 total was good for the $6,300 first prize money. Although it wasn’t his biggest take by dollars, Griffin acknowledged it was huge from another perspective.
“This is my biggest win, not in dollars, but being from Virginia and this being its state championship,” Griffin noted inside the Ballyhack clubhouse after accepting the trophy. “iIt’s tough playing in front of all your friends  and family.”
Griffin has had a degree of success on the mini-tour, including a 5-figure paycheck in a Florida event, and played in the 2011 Greenbrier Classic as a sponsor’s exemption before shooting a two-round, 6-over, 146 on The Old White TPC, missing the 36-hole cut by 5 shots.
Griffin’s five-shot lead started to disappear rapidly on Saturday, dropping to a slim one-shot advantage over Beck after 8 holes when he posted back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 7 and 8. That’s when he gathered himself and turned the tide with authority.
A birdie at No. 9 pushed his lead back to two and Griffin made a statement a the par-5 10th when he rolled in an 11-foot eagle putt after a sizzling 5-iron second shot from well over 225 yards hunted down the pin.
“After the bogeys, at that point I was looking to regroup,” the winner said. “My hands were shaking. I got more aggressive. After the birdie and eagle I had it back under control and didn’t need to push.”
“If I had blown a five-shot lead or even if I hadn’t blown it and somebody caught me, it would have really hurt.”
Salem’s Fielding Brewbaker fired a final round 68 to finish alone in fifth place.
Conditions were favorable Saturday on the links-style Ballyhack layout, where rain and wind can quickly play havoc with the best of players.
“Great conditions. The greens were firmer and faster today,” Griffin noted. “You have to be creative on this course.”
Another big winner Saturday was First Tee Roanoke Valley as Director Jennifer Blackwood accepted a $5,000 check for the local chapter from tournament officials and Delta Dental.
The Delta Dental State Open of Virginia returns to Ballyhack in 2016.
Bill Turner

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