Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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12 UCW OCTOBER 27-NOVEMBER 2, 2021 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM e 53rd annual Cumberland County Golf Championship turned into a father-son celebration. Brian Dreier won the CCGC at Gates Four Golf & Country Club, while his son, Sutton Dreier, won the inaugural CCGC Junior Division title. "I'm proud of him," Brian Dreier said about his 15-year-old son. "He's just get- ting his feet wet with tournament golf. He's improving a lot, but he's got a ways to go. I'm excited for him. But considering the field I competed against and the field he competed against, I'm going to say my win's a little bit better." "I think it's awesome that we both won the same year. ey said we're making history, so I guess it's the first time it's ever been done. I'm excited to see what I can do in the future," the Northwood Temple sophomore said. Brian Dreier had to come from five shots behind in the final round to win his first CCGC title since 2012. is was the first time he had played in the event since 2015, when he turned professional. He just regained his amateur status in January. Brian Dreier, 48, shot the only sub- par round, a 1-under 71, on the last day of the 54-hole event. e playing conditions toughened up with cooler, windy weather moving in, and the tees moved back to 6,962 yards. "is was very unexpected with the qual- ity of players in the field," Brian Dreier said. "But today was one of the best ball-striking rounds I've had. at's what it takes when you play a tough golf course in the wind. You've just got to be patient. You can't force anything. It was good enough to hold every- body else off." As Brian Dreier headed to the tenth tee box of the final round, he was locked in a battle with some of the best amateur golf talent in Cumberland County. Defending champion omas Owen, the two eight- time CCGC champions in Billy West and Gary Robinson, Jack Keefe, the leader after the first two rounds, and Brian Dreier were separated by only two shots. ings started to change quickly on the back nine. Keefe bogeyed three holes in a row and finished in third place at 3-over par after rounds of 69-71-79 — 219. Robinson saw his chances end with bogeys at 11, 12, and 13 and a double-bogey at 15. He tied for sixth place with rounds of 72-72- 79 for a 7-over 223. He did end his tournament on a high note with a birdie on the last hole. Owen's putter let him down on the back nine. He tied for fourth place with Spencer Goodnough after rounds of 70-75-75 — 220. West made the turn at even-par and held a one-shot lead over Brian Dreier with four holes left to play. But he missed the green at the 15th and 16th holes and couldn't get up and down. ose two bogeys opened the door for Brian Dreier. He took advantage by making a 10- foot birdie putt on the 52nd hole of the tour- nament, the 16th, to open a two-shot lead. Brian Dreier had a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-5 17th, but he slapped his leg in frus- tration when it slid by the hole. "I left myself a perfect look on 17 up the hill," he said. "I was trying to get that putt to go in to give myself a little bit of a cushion." West, 47, needed to birdie the last two holes to tie. He missed his 12-foot birdie putt at 17 to end his chances. However, he did walk off the 18th green smiling when he holed a 30- foot birdie putt to lose by one shot. COVER STORY Father, son make history at Cumberland County Golf Championship by EDDIE SOUTHARDS Brian Dreier wins the Cumberland County Golf Championship at Gates Four Golf & Country Club, while his son, Sutton Dreier, wins the inaugural CCGC Junior Division title. Father and son pose with tournament director, Bill Bowman and their trophies, Oct.17. (Photo by Terry Bradley) A competitor contemplates their next move at the Cumberland County Golf Championship at Gates Four Golf & Country Club, Oct.17. (Photo by Dylan Hooker)