By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
Nicklaus Benton tore through the final five holes at Greystone’s Cypress Creek Course on Tuesday to win the USGA Public Links qualifying and the official invitation to the Public Links Championship on June 27-July 2 at Brandon Dunes in Oregon.
Benton, of Cabot, had a birdie, par, birdie, par and Eagle over the last five holes to claim the Public Links’ lone qualifying spot.
Benton shot a five-under 71-68—139 for 36 holes and his score came despite a lost ball on No. 6.
The victory places Benton in his first USGA National Championship.
Jace Long of Dixon, Mo., is the Public Links first alternate with a 71-70 – 141. First-round leader Brian Whittle finished at 69-73 – 142 and tied for third with Corbin Renner, of Little Rock, with a 71-71 – 142.
Searcy’s Tim Harrell shot 77-80—157 to tie Mountain Home’s Richard Zimmerman for 16th.
Benton’s father Jeff and brother Colby tied for 10th with a 77-73—150 while Nicklaus’ mother Shelley, the Greystone women’s club champion, served as her son’s caddy.
Rounding out the family affair, Kaylee Benton is the current standings leader for the ASGA Junior Girls Player of the Year.
Nicklaus Benton recently shot a 37-37—74 to finish in a tie for fifth at the 2011 U.S. Open Qualifying at the Chenal Country Club Bear Den Mountain Course.
He just missed earning one of the top four spots that would have placed him in the sectional qualifying round June 6.
The Public Links Cham-pionship was first played in 1922.
The event allows public course golfers, with a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 4.4, a chance to play for a national championship.
