DOTHAN, Ala. – Two days before the start of his favorite tournament, Rehobeth golfer Brantley Scott changed putters.
“That’s how desperate I was,” Scott said.
The new acquisition proved to be a good one.
Scott fired a 4-under-par 66 Thursday to lead the local golfers and rank among the overall leaders during the first round of the 15-18 age division of the 71st Annual Press Thornton Future Masters at the Dothan Country Club.
Scott and six others are one stroke behind co-leaders Jack Turner and Holden Webb.
“I picked up a new putter at a golf shop and really liked it,” Scott said. “I decided just to trust it and go with it. It’s a big heavy putter.”
Scott made seven birdies and “I lipped out probably four more,” he said.
The birdies came on holes 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 16.
“There was a putt on 12 that was probably 20 feet straight down the hill,” Scott said. “It was super-fast and I made that. I made a good 15-footer right to left on nine. On 7, I made one about 20 feet straight up a hill.
“On the back side I had so many putts that were only inches away from falling.”
Not only did a change of putters pay off, but switching coaches has been a difference-maker as well.