MANSFIELD — Andy McIntyre’s jaw nearly hit the lush green grass outside the clubhouse at Westbrook Country Club when playing partner Rob Barkett informed him he had defended his Richland County Men’s Golf Association Al Hager County Championship title Sunday afternoon.

Given his recent track record, McIntyre may have been the only person crowded around the leaderboard surprised by the news.

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McIntyre followed Saturday’s round of 75 at the Shelby Country Club with a 1-over 73 on his home course, good for a two-day total of 148 and a one stroke victory over Ryan Dials and Jerry Inebnit.

It was the second straight county championship for McIntyre, who also has won the past two Westbrook club championships.

“I don’t know if anybody has ever done it,” Westbrook PGA golf pro Greg Smith said of McIntyre’s double-double. “Maybe Al Hager did it and his name is on the (county championship) trophy.”

Hager won the county championship 11 times between 1941 and 1961 and also won 11 Westbrook club titles in a span of 50 years. He qualified for and played in the U.S. Open in 1948.

Andy McIntyre

McIntyre is just the eighth player to win back-to-back county titles and the first since Neil Gerhart in 1998 and 1999. Hager won six straight from 1950 to 1955 and went back-to-back again in 1958 and 1959. Jack Miller won a record seven straight county titles from 1983 to 1989.

“I never expected to repeat, especially after the way I started,” McIntyre said. “I bogeyed three out of the first four holes and I just had to grind the rest of the day.

“Somebody told me I needed to par the last two holes to even have a chance and when they told me that I was shaking. That’s what I was able to do and it turned out to be enough.”
So what has gotten into McIntyre, the owner of Two Cousins Pizza?

“I have no idea. I haven’t done anything differently,” McIntyre said. “Win or lose, I just feel very fortunate to play with such a great group of guys.”

In the Handicap Division, Steve Richardson shot a two-day total of 144 for a three-stroke victory over Gary Feagin (147). David Jung (148) was third.

Robert Pena won the Senior Division with a two-day 136. Ron McClaran (145) was second and George Fleiner (146) was third.