Spell check

ASHEBORO - Joshua Spell has made a living talking about golf, analyzing the mental makeup it takes to be a successful golfer and solving problems players may encounter while competing in tournaments for his many clients throughout the Southeast and around the country.

In the 62nd annual Asheboro City-Am Golf Tournament held the first weekend of June, he used the principles he shares with his clients and applied them to himself. The result was his first Asheboro City-Am Championship as he bested three-time champion Steve Kidd by one stroke and three-time City-Am defending champion JD Bass by three strokes with a three-round total of 6-under-par 207. 

Tied with Kidd heading into the 18th hole on the final day of the tournament, which was held at Pinewood Country Club, Spell said he took the advice he has given to so many golfers.

“You have the best mental game in the field, every single hole I would say that to myself,” Spell said about his three-under on the final six holes of the tournament. “I haven’t played as much golf as I usually have, but I get to talk about the mental part of the game on a nightly basis, so it stays sharp.”

Spell said he hit his best drive of the day on No. 18, driving it to about 172 yards from the pin. He used a 7-iron to place himself on the fringe and after getting close to the hole, nailed a three-foot birdie putt.

Kidd said he knew he was in trouble heading into the final hole.

“Josh hits the ball a lot further so I knew I was in trouble,” said Kidd, who won the title in 2006, 2009 and 2011. “I was at a disadvantage and probably pressed. I hit a bad wedge and didn’t give myself an opportunity. Josh made two good par-saving putts and two good birdie putts and I didn’t. That was the difference. I enjoyed it. It was close at the end and I had a chance. I had a real chance.”

Kidd barely missed a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 18 that would have tied the event.

“I was in disbelief,” Spell said about winning his first tournament in his fifth try. “I was excited to see my friends and family come out to watch and support me.”

Spell, 38, carded a 70 on the Asheboro Country Club Course on the first day, but he said a slow start tested him mentally.

“When I started at ACC, I was three over through four holes and I thought I played my way out of it,” Spell said. “You have to go so low to win this thing. It was acceptance over expectations. I just accepted I was three over through four and three was nothing I could do except on to the next hole. Golf should be called on to the next.”

Spell righted the ship, finishing with two birdies and an eagle for a 70.

“That night when the scores came out and I was only two off the lead and it wasn’t Sam (Davidson) or JD, I knew I had a chance,” Spell said.

A 68 at the Asheboro City Municipal Course set up a final day where a number of golfers could have claimed the top prize.

Bass, who was gunning for his fourth straight City-Am title, shot four-under on the final three holes of the tournament, but came up short. He had rounds of 73 at the ACC and 69 at the AMGC.

“A little too little too late,” Bass said. “There was a little bit of a struggle at some point every round. You always want to win if you’re playing and I was trying to make it four in a row. It just didn’t happen.”

Charlie Parks, 75, who won the City-Am title in 1968, 1971, 1972, 1980 and 1981, carded a 68 at Pinewood Sunday and finished tied for seventh. He tied for the lowest round of the day.

“It would have been better if I played the other two days as well,” said Parks, who shot a pair of 76s entering Sunday. “I didn’t play well, but I felt more comfortable Sunday and just played. I am just blessed at 75 to still be able to play as well as I do.”

Of the 103 golfers competing, only Spell, Kidd, Bass, Stephen Spencer and Connor Carter posted scores of even-par or better.

In the Shootout, which was held one day before the start of the tournament, Gary Pugh captured the title, besting Jeff Eddins on the final hole. Pugh was one of two alternates who made the field, which consists of the top 10 finishers from the City-Am the year prior. Competing in this year’s Shootout were Davidson, Spell, Spencer, Kidd, Chad Clark, Michael Cross, Eddins, Todd Spencer and alternates Pugh and Carter.