Visiting from Nashville for the weekend, David Zickler picked the perfect time to find the rarest of eagles high atop the picturesque Signal Mountain Golf & Country Club on Sunday afternoon.
Tied for the lead in the Championship A flight of the Signal Mountain Invitational's final round, Zickler moved past any thoughts of struggling during the day's first eight holes as he lined up a 50-foot putt on No. 9.
While at first Zickler thought he struck his putt too firmly, the shot carried the slope of the green and perfectly caught the back of the cup for an eagle on the par-5 hole. The clutch putt secured the Auburn graduate's grip on the title and the $750 champion's check.
Winners in the other flights were Wes Farris (Championship B), Greg Bankston (Championship C), John Wise (First), Mike Granato (Stableford) and Richard Keene (Senior).
Zickler finished his final round with a strong back nine to post a 4-under-par 67 and finish the three-day tournament at 9-under 204. Runner-up Walt Moffitt, who was tied with Zickler at 4 under going to the ninth tee Sunday, finished seven shots back.
"I started off the day with a two-stroke lead and I lost it almost as soon as I began the round," said Zickler, who played for Auburn from 2008 to 2013. "I was able to make some good par saves today, and my short game helped me out all weekend.
"I was able to get some birdies on the par 5s, and getting the eagle changed things around," he added, explaining his approach on the ninth green. "I hit it way too hard for it to avoid going down the slope, but it hit the back of the hole and went in. If it hadn't caught the back of the hole, it probably would have gone 10 feet past the hole."
On the back nine, his short game continued to shine. On the par-4 11th, Zickler missed a second eagle putt by inches; on 17, he missed a birdie by inches despite a beautiful wedge shot from the sand trap guarding the hole.
"To make the turn with a three-stroke lead and to know I was playing well, it gave me some energy to finish it off," said Zickler, who became a father for the first time seven months ago. "I haven't played competitive golf in three years, and this is the first time I've been back in a tournament.
"With a new baby, I haven't been playing golf at all the last few months, but I played regularly over three of four weeks. I have been hitting it well, and it was a great weekend."