Chad Thomas came from four shots behind to win by two with a sizzling 8-under par 64 in the second round today of the 13th Annual Championship at Berkeley Hills in Duluth. Thomas, a PGA Associate from West Pines Golf Club in Douglasville, started four shots back of Low Amateur R.B. Clyburn of Cartersville but was able to surpass Clyburn to finish at 10-under par 134 for the tournament and the two-shot victory.
Thomas got off to a good start with a 3-under 33 on the front nine but got hot and birdied five of the first seven on the back nine to card a 5-under par 31. Clyburn, a few holes behind Thomas, made the turn with the lead at 9-under par but proceeded to make a double bogey 7 on the 10th hole and relinquished the lead for good as Thomas continued his birdie barrage.
Rounding out the top five were amateur Shaun Cook of Peachtree City at 7-under par 137 in third place and PGA Associate Finlay Mason, an assistant golf coach at Kennesaw State University with rounds of 70-68 for a 4-under par 138 in fourth place. A trio of PGA Professionals tied for fifth at 5-under par 139 including Jeff Cammon from Sea Island Golf Club, Greg Edwards of East Lake Golf Club and Matt Sanders of West Pines Golf Club.
Thomas joins his coworker and fellow PGA Assistant Professional Matt Sanders from West Pines as back-to-back Champions of Georgia PGA Player of the Year point events with Sanders winning the Yamaha Atlanta Open three weeks earlier.
A special thank you to PGA General Manager Patrick Buhrmann, golf course superintendent Chris Purvis, and all the members and staff at Berkeley Hills Country Club for their hospitality.