Yes, Doug King Jr. broke Rick Hamilton's stranglehold on the men's club championship title at Pointe South Golf Club, but no, King doesn't consider himself the best player at the Hephzibah course.
Far from it.
King believes the unofficial title still belongs to Hamilton, who had won 11 consecutive club championships before King beat him for the 2004 title.
"My feeling is, as long as he walks those fairways, he's still the best player out there," the 38-year-old King said of the 53-year-old Hamilton.
King shot 74-71-145 to unseat Hamilton, who finished third after 74-74-148.
Hamilton had been unbeaten in the club championship since joining in 1992.
"I'm embarrassed in a way," King said. "I'm excited and shocked. There are about eight of us who have always thought about winning it, but our problem is Rick is so consistent and we're up-and-down. He puts a lot of time and effort into his game. When he's hitting range balls, we're playing nine holes."
In the 2004 club championship, the roles were reversed. King caught fire at the end of the final round, finishing eagle, birdie, par. For once, Hamilton couldn't match that charge.
The finish allowed King to leave Hamilton and leader Scott Daniels - who played his final three holes in 2-over par and finished second - two shots back.
"It was nerve-wracking," King said. "Until the last three holes, I was just an afterthought. I hit one great second shot on the par-5 (No. 16) and made three good putts coming in."
Hamilton played those final three holes in even par.
"I guess I realized I wasn't going to win with about two holes left," Hamilton said. "I'm real happy for Doug. If I was going to lose, I couldn't be happier that it was to Doug."
Before the 2004 club championship, Hamilton knew it would be the last one at Pointe South for him and his wife, Margie, who has won 12 of the past 13 women's club championships, including this year's.
The couple has joined Champions Retreat and will drop their Pointe South membership in early 2005 to play at the new Evans course when it opens.
"That kind of took some of my drive out of it, knowing it was going to be my last year," Hamilton said. "I wasn't concentrating as well as I should have. I don't want to take anything away from Doug. He played well and won. It doesn't matter what I was thinking."
King didn't have much time to enjoy the handshakes and pats on the back that go with being a club champion. The club championship concluded Aug. 29; King's 2004 golf season ended Sept. 1.
That's when he annually throws himself into his work at Doug's Meat Shop, which is owned by his father, Doug King Sr.
"I only play golf from the end of January to Sept. 1," King said. "Part of our job is we can't play during the winter time."
King spends about 14 hours a day at work during the winter processing deer, he said.
"There's no way possible for me to play," King said.
When he returns to the game in late January, King said it takes "three to four weeks" on the range before he can hit it "half decent" and another month before he's shooting in the mid-70s.
King, who was a 9-handicapper five years ago, has gotten as low as 2, thanks to the help of Pointe South head pro Mike Pollard and Hamilton, one of his regular playing partners.
"Mike has helped me become a better golfer, and Rick has showed me a lot," King said. "I watch what Rick does and take his advice."
Hamilton can start a new club championship streak, and add to his collection, at Champions Retreat in 2005.
In addition his Pointe South club championships, Hamilton previously won club championships at Green Meadows Country Club, Goshen Plantation Golf Club and Armed Forces Golf Club, which is now Forest Hills Golf Club.
"I'm proud of it; I can't say I'm not," Hamilton said of his 11 consecutive Pointe South titles. "Maybe I can get it going at Champions Retreat."
Reach David Westin at (706) 724-0851 or david.westin@augustachronicle.com.
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