Billy Barbour, Mount Vernon, OH

Champion  -  68-69=137

The obvious talent of Billy Barbour II of Mount Vernon made the lackluster performances of his first eight Mid-Ohio Invitationals a puzzle. Until 2011, he finished in the top 50 only twice with a tie for 23rd in the rain-shortened 2008 tournament and a tie for 47th in 2010. So when he shot an opening round of 68 in 2011, he found himself in unfamiliar territory in the final pairing of the day, only two shots behind the leader. While others faltered, Billy surged to a three-under par 33 grab a three-stroke lead. He lost his lead with three straight bogies to begin the second nine, but regained it with a birdie on the 16th hole and drilled a 10-foot eagle putt on the final hole to win the tournament by three strokes. It was the tournament’s largest winning margin since 2007. Billy recently finished his college golf career at Oral Roberts University. He previously had been a member of the varsity golf teams at Malone University and Kent State University.