No flinching by Mahone as drought ends

Like most people in the athletic world, Philip Mahone did a masterful job at hiding his emotions until the one thing dearest to him - his family - came into the picture on Sunday afternoon at Meadowcreek Golf Course.

When Mahone made the turn in the final round of the 23rd annual Reines Jewelers Charlottesville City Championship, he trailed leader Scott Garrison by five strokes.

Never flinched.

Walking up the ninth fairway in pursuit of the title that has eluded him all these years, Mahone owned a one-shot lead but gave off an aura of cool. Inside, unknown to onlookers, the 46-year-old mortgage man was a bundle of nerves.

When he sank the ceremonious 8-inch putt that clinched his first city title and ballooned his lead in the Central Virginia Battle Trophy standings for the area’s top amateur golfer, he gave a modest fist pump, but nothing over the top.

After receiving the championship ring from tourney sponsor Peter Reines, and promptly handing over the accompanying $300 gift certificate to Reines’ jewelry store to wife Penny, Mahone was steady as a rock. That is, until he began to thank those responsible for him getting to the winner’s circle.

His emotions got the better of him when he looked into the crowd gathered at the muni’s scoreboard and saw his entire family there - his wife, his three kids, his brother, his wife’s family, and over on the side, his father. Mahone paused, his voice cracked and everyone understood and appreciated the moment. There’s nothing like winning, but really nothing like winning with loved ones sharing the triumph.

The longtime Farmington golfer, a four-time runner-up in this event, had ended an eight-year drought between wins on the Battle Trophy circuit, dating back to his victory in the 2002 Jefferson Cup. Coming back to beat Garrison by a stroke wasn’t easy.

“I didn’t think it would take this long to win again,” Mahone said. “After I missed so many times I started to question, ‘Is it actually going to happen again for me?’

“So, for it to happen, it is a relief, but it’s also an awesome feeling. I know how I felt when I won the last time ... you can’t describe it. It’s just euphoria, really, and that’s the way I feel right now.”

Normally when a contender is five shots down heading to the back nine on Sunday, it’s curtains. However, Garrison, who has also struggled to finish what he’s started, could not deliver the coup de grace.

When the leader bogeyed the 10th hole (the two nines were switched for the final round), normally the first hole, Mahone birdied for a two-shot swing. Same thing on the third hole. Garrison bogeyed and Mahone answered with another birdie and another two-shot swing.

He went on to birdie the fourth hole for the second straight day to draw even with Garrison, who by that point was reeling.

“I knew it because I’ve been there,” said Mahone, who’s had his share of bad luck over the years. “I’ve had the five-shot lead and lost. I know how that feels and I know how your body reacts to that. You really start to press and I could [tell] that was happening with [Garrison].”

Mahone took the lead with a par on the short, par-4, fifth hole. Garrison bogeyed after his drive strayed right, nearly going into the woods beyond the hole. With a one-stroke lead and Garrison slipping, Mahone figured all he had to do was par out and victory would finally be his.

He confessed later that over those last four holes he was the most nervous he had been in his golfing life. The final putt was easy. The hard part came later when he fought back his emotions.

“I was so excited because my family was there,” Mahone said, his voice cracking. He had to stop. He couldn’t go on. “My dad’s getting up there and I really wanted him to see me win it, so that was cool.”

If Mahone plays hooky from work today, forgive him. Last time he won, he didn’t go to sleep that night. After eight long years, he deserves another all-night celebration.