Pete Howard wins!!!

(I had a hard time uploading the video of Pete....click on the "Video Player/Single line/link below - and hopefully the video will play (it will probably open with a commerical)   Below the interview typed below is another link (from the WS Journal's website)  - with several pictures. 

<iframe width="590" height="332" src="http://launch.newsinc.com/?type=VideoPlayer/Single&widgetId=1&trackingGroup=69016&siteSection=ndn&videoId=30933569" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" noresize marginwidth="0" marginheight="0"></iframe>

 

June 4, 2016:  Howard beats Roland in playoff to win Forsyth Senior>

You'll have to excuse the Howard family for showing their emotions Friday, June 3, after the 55th Forsyth Senior golf tournament.

Pete Howard, 60, wound up beating Mike Roland, a four-time champion of the tournament, in a one-hole playoff at Pine Knolls Golf Club.    Howard's younger brother, Joey, 55, also played and was there at the end watching his brother win for the first time.

"This means so much," Pete said while fighting back tears on the green of the first playoff hold soon after he drained the eight-foot winning birdie putt.  "This is one of the best moments of my life.  I mean, I'm not the caliber of golfer that these guys are like Mike Roland and the others, so it's obvious I've overachieved."

What made the win emotional for the Howards is Pete and Joey have played in the recreation department tournaments since they were children.

"I think I was 12 or 13 when I first played in the Forsyth Junior," Pete said after receiving the John Goins Trophy for winning the tournament.  "And I never came close to winning the Forsyth Invitation.  I"m  just shocked by this, really."

Howard was the first tee for the playoff, younger brother Joey had a little advice.

"I just told him to relax and go do it," Joey said as he was also fighting back tears trying to describe his brother's victory.  "I know this means so much to him, and I"m excited for him. We've been playing a lot of golf around here for a long time."

On the playoff hole, which was hole No. 1, Roland and Howard hit perfect tee shots on the par-4.  Roland's approach came up a little short on the green and was about 25 feet away while Howard's approached stopped about 8 feet away.

Roland just missed his birdie attempt and tapped in for par, and this set the stage for Howard to roll in the winning putt.

"I just took a deep breath, and tried to putt it smooth," Howard said.

Howard and Roland tied at 139 (4 under) after 36 holes and finishing third was Mark Hauser, who battled all day but had to settle for a 72 as he finished three shots back.

Howard struggled on the front nine to a 2-over 38, and roland's 2 under after nine holes cut the lead to two shots.  Roland kept piling up birdies on the back, and when he birdied 16 and 17 was 4 under for the tournament and had a one-shot lead on Howard.

Because Howard was playing two groups behind Roland he didn't know what his birdie putt meant on the par-3 18th.

"I thought maybe it was for the win, but I wasn't sure," Howard said.  "I just had the feeling I needed to make that putt, and I'm glad I did."

Howard said a key during his two rounds was his driver.  He said he constantly put himself in good position off the tee, and what also helped was his putting was just consistent enough.

"I didn't do anything spectacular," he said.  "I tired to be solid on all my shots."

Joey Howard said there will be a nice celebration for his brother's win.

"This is special," Joey said.  "I couldn't have been more proud of the way he went out and played over these two days."

http://www.journalnow.com/gallery/sports/forsyth-senior-golf-tournament-final-round/collection_4ab3fb96-29cc-11e6-b99b-2b9c58c68a18.html



 

 
 


agape