DeCorso wins the South Georgia Classic

By Bryan Fazio

May 05, 2008 01:33 am

— VALDOSTA — There certainly wasn’t any deja vu for Bryan DeCorso this week.
Sunday’s final round of the South Georgia Classic Presented by First State Bank was not only very different from last week’s slide from first place, but was such a different result for the 37-year old pro, it’s career-changing.
DeCorso sunk a one-foot putt on the 18th hole to win his first-ever Nationwide Tour event, and receive the much desired $112,500 giant cardboard check.
“It’s euphoric,” DeCorso said. “It’s going to hit me tomorrow or next week. I don’t know exactly when I’ll truly understand what I’ve accomplished.”
What he accomplished was a round of 3-under par 69 for a four-day total of 14-under on the Nationwide Tour’s longest course.
DeCorso took over the lead after the first hole on Friday, and never relinquished it, extending a one-stroke lead after Saturday into a four-stroke lead he didn’t even know about.
DeCorso was just two strokes in the lead after going through the seventh hole when he looked at the scoreboard for the last time until 18.
“I think I was at 13 and someone else (Bryce Molder) was at 11, and Owen was off to a bad start, and I was all by myself,” DeCorso said. “Sometimes that can be difficult when who is ahead of you is playing well, because you could get caught watching the scoreboard. I decided at that point I was going to stick with trying to shoot 60s and not look.”
Even with two holes to go, DeCorso didn’t know he had a four-shot lead.
“On 17, I said to my caddie, ‘Unless we have to make birdie on 18 to tie, I don’t want to know what we’re at,’” DeCorso said. “He looked at me and said, ‘Are you serious?’ I said I don’t want to know unless I have to make birdie on 18. Otherwise I’m going to stick to the game plan, which was try to make the putt on 17 and hit the middle right on 18, and two-putt to make a four.”
Because DeCorso didn’t have to make birdie on 18, he stuck exactly to the game plan.
His tee shot put him right online for the flag on 18, and his iron shot fell 15 feet from the pin.
Walking up to the green is when DeCorso saw the scoreboard for the first time in nine holes.
“I saw the scoreboard when I was on the green and watching David (Moreland) go through his routine, and I was really emotional,” DeCorso said.
He glanced past the flag and saw his wife of 10 years, Charlotte, with tears beginning to come past her sunglasses. From then on, it was a test to keep his emotions in check.
“I saw Charlotte behind the green, and everything started speeding up,” DeCorso said. “Your mind takes over. I had to back away from it. It was the best I could do to get control of my emotions.”
The 15-footer from the back of the green set up a short putt to become the second champion at the South Georgia Classic, following John Kimbell’s inaugural win with a score of 10-under.
“It’s just nice that I set myself a goal, and achieved that goal,” DeCorso said.
The win moves him into fifth on the Nationwide Tour’s Top 25.
Just one slot below him is Greg Owen, who finished tied for second at 12-under with Bryce Molder.
The two earned $55,000 for their effort, followed by Scott Parel (8-under) in fourth place with $30,000, and Jeff Brehaut (7-under) with $25,000.
Owen had a chance to keep second place to his own when he missed a 5-foot birdie chance on the 18th hole, and finished behind the leader for the second week.

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