By Gary Lloyd
BIRMINGHAM — University of Cincinnati rising senior and 2011 Pinson Valley High School graduate John Michael O’Toole won the Greystone Invitational on Sunday after carding a final-round 7-under par 65 to finish at 13-under.
O’Toole carded rounds of 69, 70, 71 and 65 to claim the championship by six strokes over Georgia Tech’s Drew Czuchry. There were 67 players who played the weekend after making the cut.
John Michael O’Toole
photo courtesy of www.gobearcats.com
The four-round tournament was played on the Founder’s Course at the Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham.
“I just put together building blocks all tournament,” O’Toole told www.gobearcats.com. “I was able to hit a bunch of greens, putted well and managed my game all week.”
O’Toole got off to a slow start in opening-round action on Thursday, posting three-over through the first six holes. But an ace on the par-3 14th hole and an eagle on the par-5 15th hole ignited O’Toole’s run to the championship.
“Those two holes really turned my week around,” O’Toole said. “It got the ball rolling because it calmed me down and allowed me to go attack the golf course.”
O’Toole’s final-round play featured seven birdies, including four successful putts from 20 or more feet. He was 4-under on the front nine and 3-under after the turn.
As a senior at Pinson Valley High School in 2011, O’Toole won the Class 5A individual state championship at Magnolia Grove in Mobile. He shot 72 and 69 in the tournament, which Pinson Valley placed fifth in as a team.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
