Clyburn defends his title at the 105th Georgia Match Play Championship
July 31, 2024
Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

Cartersville golfer R.B. Clyburn continued a season of strong performances this week by successfully defending his Georgia State Golf Association Match Play Championship title at Old Toccoa Farm in Mineral Bluff.
Clyburn advanced out of Pod 1 on Sunday and Monday with competitors Christopher Demetree of Johns Creek, Ethan Kolisz of Valdosta, and Cameron Hood of Milton. Despite shooting a 2-under-par 70, he dropped a 2-up match with Kolisz before rallying for a 5-up win over Demetree and a 6-up victory over Hood. Those wins sent him into the Round of 16 on Tuesday in the single-elimination bracket.
Facing James Baker of Johns Creek in the Round of 16, Clyburn fired a 68 on the par-72, 6,655-yard course. Baker matched him with five birdies and one bogey on the round and sent the match to an extra hole by dropping a birdie on the 18th hole. Clyburn responded with a birdie on the first extra hole to advance.
Against Chase Long of Buckhead in the Round of 8, he finished off the match in just 14 holes. Clyburn won the first three holes and extended his lead to 4-up through five holes. After Long won the seventh hole, Clyburn reeled off four wins over the next six holes to close out the match.
In the Wednesday morning semifinals, Clyburn topped Jacob Arnett of Kennesaw, 2&1. With the match even through the first six holes, Clyburn won No. 7, No. 9, and No. 11 to take a 3-up lead. Arnett won two of the next three holes but Clyburn matched him with two pars and a birdie on No. 15, No. 16, and No. 17 to close the match and reach the afternoon finals.
His opponent in the finals was Preston Topper of Gainesville. Topper had wins over Keith Guest, Payne Sells, and Finley Burke to win his side of the bracket.
Clyburn started quickly again in the championship match by winning five of the first nine holes en route to a 2-under-par 34 and a 3-up lead. Topper narrowed the margin to 2-up through 13 holes, but Clyburn made birdies on No. 15 and No. 16 to claim a 4-up victory.
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