Lown prevails again in playoff

EDGEFIELD, S.C. --- The way North Augusta's Ben Lown determines his Regions Cup tournament schedule goes like this: If his uncle, Jeff Pope, is playing, count him in.

Pope, a three-time winner on the circuit, plays a limited schedule these days, so the 20-year-old Lown doesn't make many appearances, either.

In only his second start of the season, Lown beat his uncle -- and the field -- Sunday.

It came in the Perry Watson Memorial, the eighth event of the 10-tournament season. Lown also won his other start this year, in the third event.

Lown, who will be a junior on the Newberry College golf team this fall, had to beat hometown favorite Garland Smith on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff for the latest win.

Lown and Smith both shot 69-70 to finish at 5-under 139.

Pope tied for fifth after a pair of 74s.

"I'm glad he's finally better than me," the 44-year-old Pope said of Lown.

"I don't know about that," said Lown, who was paired with his uncle in the first round and beat him by five shots.

Pope said he knew his days of beating Lown regularly were over when Lown shot 71-69--140 to win at Persimmon Hill on June 21.

"I had him by four shots after the first round and he beat me by eight shots in the final round," said Pope, who was the first-round leader there with 67 but finished second after a final-round 77.

In the senior division at the Perry Watson Memorial, Kenny Larry won his second consecutive tournament and fourth in seven starts this season. He shot 70-72--142 to beat Paul Moore (74 on Sunday) by three shots.

It was Larry's 11th career win. He can tie the senior division career record of 13 if he wins the final two events of the season. Mike Jackson and Ed Payne, who no longer plays regularly, share the record.

"My eyes are on Jackson," Larry said.

Lown is in the midst of a swing change, which appears to be working. He and Smith outclassed the field at Pine Ridge Plantation. They were the only players to break 70, and third-place finisher Jacob Tilton (70-74) was five behind the pair.

"We were having a pretty good little duel (in the final round)," said Smith, who lives in Edgefield.

Smith, 19, finished strong in regulation, making birdies on Nos. 14 and 17 (a one-foot tap-in) to get in the playoff.

Both parred the first two holes of the playoff, which started on No. 1.

Lown won it by making birdie on the par-5 third hole for the third time in the tournament.

After Lown rolled in an 18-footer, Smith missed his 15-foot birdie attempt.

"I know the golf course and I should have hit a better putt," Smith said.

While Lown basked in the victory, Smith headed to work in the cart barn, where he is an attendant.

"I'm kind of frustrated right now," Smith said during a break from work. "This is my home course and I shouldn't get beat here. It's my territory. It happens. He played good."

The senior division result was a repeat of last week's tournament at Gordon Lakes, where Larry beat Moore (on the third hole of sudden death).

This one wasn't as close, as Larry shot 33 on the back nine to pull away from Moore.

"This is getting to be routine, isn't it?" said Moore, a 50-year-old rookie who has one victory.

Moore and Larry started their round on No. 10, and Moore led Larry by two strokes after 11 holes.

It didn't last. Moore made double bogey on the 12th hole (No. 3 on the course) while Larry made birdie to go up by one and followed with birdies on his 15th and 18th holes.

"He never gave me a chance after that," Moore said.

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