By Chris Dortch, Staff Writer
last updated 09/18/11 07:57 PM

Mitch Hufstetler Edges Walt Moffitt in Playoff at Red Bud for 2nd Playoff Win of Year

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2011 Red Bud Champion
Mitch Hufstetler (right)
with IfYouLikeGolf.com Contributing Editor
Chris Dortch

Mitch Hufstetler was standing over a six-foot par putt on the 14th hole at Valleybrook on Sunday when the thought occurred that he still had a chance to win the Red Bud.

"I said to myself if I would just get off my butt and make a couple birdies, I might have a chance to win," Hufstetler said.

He was right. With three birdies in his final four holes, Hufstetler, who shot 70, came in at 1-under par for the tournament, tying him with good friend and frequent playing companion Walt Moffitt and forcing a playoff, which lasted exactly one hole. When Hufstetler two-putted from 20 feet and Moffitt three-putted from 35, Hufstetler won his second Chattanooga area tournament of the season.

"It was already a great year after I won Brainerd." Hufstetler said. "Now it's closing in on spectacular."

Spectacular is a good word to describe Hufstetler's closing kick. At the par-4 15th, he was about to hit a 9-iron approach when the wind picked up. He went back to his bag, pulled an 8-iron and ripped a shot to eight feet. Hufstetler made the birdie putt, and though he didn't know it at the time, he was two shots behind Moffitt, who was already in the clubhouse with a 68.

Hufstetler kept his hopes alive by two-putting from 60 feet at the par-3 16th. Then the real action began.

At the par-5 17th, he missed the green from 72 yards. After beating himself up for the poor third shot, he settled over his chip with one thought in mind.

"I told myself if I left it short I was gonna kick my own butt," Hufstetler said.

Sure enough, Hufstetler sent the chip flying toward the hole. His ball caught the back of the cup and dove to the bottom for another birdie. At even par for the tournament, he was now one shot behind Moffitt.

Hufstetler gave himself another stern talking to after leaving his approach at No. 18 40 feet short of the flag. But undaunted, he slammed the putt into the hole for yet another birdie to set up the playoff.

"What this shows you is that you never give up," Hufstetler said.

Moffitt can say the same thing after the last year, during which he fought back not from one but two injuries that could have potentially derailed his golf career.

The first, torn ligaments in his right foot, plagued him at last year's Tennessee Mid-Amateur. He had to ingest 2,400 milligrams of ibuprofen a day just to stay upright.

"I was gonna finish the tournament," Moffitt said, because I wanted to make the cut and be exempt for this year [when the tournament will be played at Cleveland Golf and Country Club].”

Finish he did, but Moffitt shut it down after the Mid-Am. Rest and therapy eventually helped his foot problem go away, but then the knuckles on his left hand became inflamed. Two months ago, he underwent surgery to repair the problem. The Red Bud was his first tournament since last fall.

“I’m tickled to death,” Moffitt said. “Just to be playing again.”

As for the short-lived playoff, Moffitt said he was trying to keep his first putt below the hole. Valleybrook’s greens are Champion Bermuda, and the club is able to keep them slick and treacherous even in the hottest part of the summer.

“I wanted to be below the hole,” Moffitt said. “But I just overdid it.”

Moffitt's six-foot par putt slipped out of the hole on the right side, handing the victory to his old friend.

“Mitch is a very good friend, and we play a lot of golf together,” Moffitt said. “We even played a practice round for this tournament together. I’m always pulling for him.”

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