Hallman crowned shortstop champion after back-and-forth match

 

The 2018 Shortstop Tournament was one for the ages, as five-time tournament champion, Brent Miller took on six-time participant Sam Hallman in the championship final Monday afternoon.

Despite being down by two holes with three left to play in the match play event, Hallman scrambled from behind to force a playoff hole, where he was eventually crowned the 2018 Shortstop champion.

After halving the first hole, Miller jumped out to an early lead by taking the next two holes for himself.

Hallman won hole No. 4 to climb back to within one, but Miller took it right back after recording a birdie on hole No. 6.

With Miller clinging to a two-hole lead, the duo halved the next three holes before Miller would win hole No. 9 to take a three-hole lead into the turn.

Hallman took hole No. 10 after Miller hit an errant shot into the sand trap. Hallman also took hole No. 12 to bring himself within one shot again.

Hole No. 13 was halved. Miller won No. 14, and No. 15 was halved to put Hallman down by two holes with only three holes remaining.

Hallman, again got back to within one by winning hole No .16 and would ride that wave of momentum into hole No. 17, where he hit a beautiful second shot to within 10 feet of the hole, while Miller found himself in the lateral water hazard just short of the green. Hallman sunk the putt for a birdie, sending the match into the final hole all evened up.

Both Miller and Hallman hit crushing drive to start the hole. However, Miller hit a second shot that stopped dead even with the flag stick, giving him a great look at birdie and a win. Hallman wound up paring the hole and Miller would just miss the putt for the win, forcing a playoff hole.

The pair headed to hole No. 10 for the playoff, where Hallman pounded a drive to the left side of the fairway. Miller was forced to hit a second shot from the tee box after he hit a tree and went out of bounds.

However, the match was not in hand for Hallman just yet, as he hit an errant shot close to the green that wound up not making it on.

With Miller already on the green looking at his putt for bogey, Hallman would hit his fourth shot onto the green giving him a good opportunity for a par and the title.

Hallman stepped up to the ball and drained the putt, giving a fist pump as the ball fell into the cup, securing him his first Shortstop championship.