Playoff win perfect 10 for veteran

After it was finally over, a weary Kenny Larry called Sunday's senior division victory in the Ping Regions Cup Invitational his toughest one yet.

• Photos

Michael Holahan/Staff

Kenny Larry (left) beat Paul Moore in a playoff at the Ping Regions Cup Invitational at Gordon Lakes.

It might also have been the most satisfying win for the 53-year-old Augustan.

Not just because it was his 10th senior win or because it came on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff with senior rookie Paul Moore.

It was the site of the tournament -- Gordon Lakes Golf Course on Fort Gordon -- that made the win so special for Larry.

"Being retired military and Fort Gordon being a military golf course, that right there brings a lot of joy," said Larry, who spent 23 years in the Army and was stationed at Fort Gordon from 1994-97.

Larry closed with 1-over-par 73 to finish at 1-under 143 with the 50-year-old Moore (73-70), who eagled the par-5 final hole to get in the playoff.

Larry won it with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 third hole. Moore, who also hit the green in two, gunned his eagle putt 5 feet past the hole and missed the birdie attempt.

"It's one I really, really wanted to win because of my military status," Larry said.

Larry admitted he had to regroup after Moore picked up two shots on him with the eagle on the final hole of regulation. Moore, one of Larry's playing partners, hit two great shots on the par-5, leaving him a 3-footer for eagle.

"Just to do that (make eagle) is tough, but knowing you have to do it and doing it, that's awesome," Larry said.

Larry is racking up senior victories at a steady clip. With 10 wins, he's already fifth on the career list behind Mike Jackson and Ed Payne (13 each), Chuck Withers (12) and Michael Benham (11). Of those four, only the 60-year-old Jackson and 59-year-old Withers play full schedules.

"Kenny's the player to beat; that's the end of the story," said Moore, who has already won once as a rookie. "It's going to take a very good player to knock him off his pedestal. I've got a long way to go to prove myself."

In the regular division, Aiken's 19-year-old Gaines Milliner went wire-to-wire for his first victory.

He led by four shots after an opening 69, and followed that with 73 on Sunday to win by three over Jay Blackburn (74-71).

It was only the third career Regions Cup event for Milliner, who will be a freshman this fall on the USC Aiken golf team.

Reach David Westin at (706) 724-0851 or david.westin@augustachronicle.com.