Greene Riding a Wave

Oak Mountain sophomore has two wins and a major experience over last week, leads team to Oxford Invitational title

OXFORD – Will Greene has had a pretty good week.

It started by winning a three-man playoff for medalist in his county championship. Then he spent four days on the grounds at The Masters, following all the contenders and even putting the replica Augusta National greens in the compound at Berckmans Place just off the fifth fairway.

That was plenty enough for a sophomore golfer to absorb. But then he topped it off Tuesday by winning medalist honors and leading his Oak Mountain team to victory in Oxford’s Yellow Jacket Invitational.

Greene shot a 2-under-par 70 at Cider Ridge Golf Club with birdies at 17 and 18 and won by six shots over Nathan Barnes of Briarwood Christian. The Eagles shot 317 as a team and beat Auburn by 11.

“I’m just thankful for everything,” he said.

The trip of Augusta had a profound impact on his approach to the game. For four days he was right in the middle of the action.

“I got to watch (eventual champion) Scottie (Scheffler), I got to watch Cam Smith go through his ups and downs, I got to watch Rory (McIlroy) go through his ups and downs, Tiger,” Greene said. “It’s a lot different when you see them on TV and you see them in person. You’re like, ‘whoa.’

“I watched their attitudes, how they control their attitude. Like Tiger doubled a hole and he took it like fine. I used to have trouble with my attitude, but like today when I hit one out of bounds but I still got up and down for bogey that’s how I kept it together, kept my head in the game. That’s what the pros showed me. That’s what I took away from that.”

Greene dreams of one day joining them inside the ropes. He’s been bringing his game along accordingly. He’s added some 60 yards off the tee since last season.

“He’s a solid golfer,” Oak Mountain coach Christian Collins said.

In addition to Greene’s low round of the day, the Eagles counted a 77 from Saxon Rockett, an 82 from Will Bramblett and an 88 from Brendin Simich. Rockett birdied two of his last three holes.

Barnes birdied his last hole to finish solo second.

Oxford’s Nic Boyd shot 79 and finished tied for sixth. Teammate Cohen Picton (81) was tied for tenth. The Yellow Jackets were sixth as a team. [*** read more]

Oxford Invitational