WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS -- What has been a productive golf season for Tim Fisher up to this point got even better Thursday.
The Statts Mills resident holed a 4-foot par putt on the 18th hole to cap off a round of 2-under-par 68 on The Greenbrier Resort's Old White course and win the 89th West Virginia Amateur by a shot over Anthony Reale of Charleston.
Fisher, who matched birdies with Reale on the par-4 16th and then made birdie on the par-5 17th to a par for the 2007 winner, finished with a 6-under 278 as he picked up State Am win No. 2. He becomes the 15th multiple winner in the tournament that began in 1913. He won his first State Am in 2005 in a playoff with Pat Carter with birdies on all three extra holes. The past two years, he finished tied for 10th and out of the top 10.
"I felt I needed a win," Fisher said before exchanging hugs with family members on first tee on Old White where the trophy presentation took place. "I didn't want to be a one-hit wonder."
The win gives Fisher an insurmountable lead over Carter in the points race for the West Virginia Golf Association player of the year. Earlier this summer he and partner Joe Grimmett won the West Virginia Four Ball. Fisher was low amateur in the West Virginia Open and reached the semifinals in the West Virginia Mid-Am where he lost to Carter, the eventual winner.
"I've been invited in the past," Fisher said of the association's annual awards banquet. "To be in (Player of Year) I can't wait."
Reale shot 70 in the final round for a 279 and settled for runner-up for the second time in three years. The former East Carolina player lost to Carter by two shots in 2006.
"He shot 68 to win. My hat's off to him," Reale said.
Justin Caroli of Bridgeport shot 72 and took third with 285. This was his last State Am as he is turning pro. Michael Veres of Logan, who regained his amateur status this year, wound up fourth with 286 after carding a 74. This was the first time Old White was used for the final round.
Fisher's two biggest shots came on the par-5 12th and No. 16. On No. 12, he had 259 yards to the green (191 to carry the creek) and he ripped his driver long with a little cut into the right fringe where he got up and down for four.
"Driver off the deck. It took a lot of gumption to try that shot," Reale said.
"I got it all," Fisher said. "I knew I had the carry when I hit it."
On No. 16, both players had wedges into the green. Reale's shot stopped about four feet from the hole, then Fisher stepped up and landed his a couple of feet from the cup. Reale holed out first and Fisher matched him.
"My best shot of the tournament," Fisher said.
On No. 17, Reale's second shot with a 3-iron from 229 yards out came to rest in a bare lie in the left rough. His third sailed over the green, but he got up and down for par. Fisher's second with a 5-iron from 209 out bounced to the front of the green where he got up and down to take the lead to the home hole.
"My caddy (Matt Sisson) gave me good advice," said Fisher, who thought about hitting a 24-degree hybrid. "Matt said if you don't hit it solid, you'll hit it straight and chase it up there. He took the guessing game out all week. Anthony played really well. I made two more putts that he did."
On No. 18, which features a huge mound in the middle of the green, Fisher's tee shot got over the mound, but Reale's came up short. Both had long putts. Reale putted out first for three, meaning Fisher needed to hole his 4-footer for victory.
"I put a little pressure on him," Reale said. "I didn't play that well the past two days. My short game and putter saved me."
As for the week and super season, Fisher said, "Maturity and knowledge. I manage my game better. Every tournament I've been in I've been in contention. I hadn't been in contention here since 2005. I'm loose and that helps. I knew the setup would be tough. To shoot 68 blows my mind." Fisher posted a 69 in round two on Old White, making him 3 under on both courses (par-72 Greenbrier was used in rounds one and three).
For Veres, who was second to Carter in the 1998 State Am, his two mishaps came on Nos. 6 and 8. On the long par-4 sixth, he drive went into the left rough, he had to pitch back to the fairway and he three-putted once on the green. On the par-3 eighth, his tee shot went right of the mound, his pitch over the green and he needed three more to get down.
"I'd like to have those two back," he said. "It was sort of like that all week. You can't do those things against those guys. They're good. The one thing I take away is it's nice to be back."
As for the finish, Veres said, "I definitely had the best view in the house. I know I have the talent and game to win. You still have to make the shots to make it happen."
Carter, winner of 12 State Am titles, closed with a 70 to tie Marshall golfers Christian Brand and Bosten Miller for fifth at 275. It was his worst showing since he was out of the top 10 in 1994. That was the year before he started his national record 10-year winning streak.
"I didn't get anything straightened out," Carter said, referring to faulty iron play during the tournament. "I didn't miss that many fairways (off the tee). I didn't get the ball close enough to the hole and took too many putts (37 in round three). Four birdies over the last nine ... too little, too late."
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