Mills' unlikely comeback
wins 2004 boys title

(Note: Girls tournament was rained out)

In one of the more unlikely comebacks in FWJGA history, Brian Mills of Burleson rallied from five shots down with two holes to play to win the 2004 Fort Worth Boys City Junior Golf Championship.

Mills birdied the last two holes to fire a 67 at River Crest Country Club while leader Brent Cecil of Arlington faltered on the final two holes with a triple bogey and a double bogey to finish with a 76. Mills won the 72-hole event with an 11-over 291. Entering the final round, Brian, who had graduated from Burleson High School, was seven shots behind after rounds of 70-77-77 at Pecan Valley River Course, and Shady Oaks and Colonial country clubs.

Cecil, who finished at 293, had taken the lead after the first day with a 3-under-par 67 at Pecan Valley to lead Billy Privette, a Colleyville Heritage High School graduate, by one shot. Mills was three back after opening with a 70.

Temperatures that reached the triple digits helped make Shady Oaks an even tougher test than it usually is as the boys entered the second round. Cecil could manage only a 77 and his 137 total dropped him into a tie with Carmine Mediate, a Carroll High graduate who carded a 75 despite wildness off the tee. Mills matched Cecil's 77 to remain in third place and three back.

At Colonial on the third day, Cecil, a senior at Arlington High, emerged with a six-shot lead after a 3-over 73. Moving into second was Larry Goodson, who also had carded a 73. Mills shot another 77 and was tied with Mediate, who had helped the Dragons win the UIL 5A state championship during the past season.

Then came the final-day heroics by Mills, who capped his two-birdie finish with a chip-in on the par-4 finishing hole.

Mills didn't celebrate after finishing, though, out of respect for Cecil.

``I really feel bad for Brent. I didn't expect to win,'' Mills said.

Cecil said he was angry at his finish. ``Second is good, but not when you have a five-shot lead with two holes to play,'' he said.

Finishing after Cecil were Shane McDonald (297), Mediate (298) and Ben Allen (299).

Austin Berkovsky, who would win the next two boys titles, finished eighth with a 301 total..

Other winners include: First Flight -- Zach Rezentes. Second Flight -- Matt Hooper. Third Flight -- Alex Thie. Fourth Flight: Dakota Suarez. Fifth Flight -- Zack Torres. Sixth Flight -- Michael Belspiel. Seventh Flight -- Cody Sprouse. Eighth Flight -- James Kilpatrick. Ninth Flight -- Matthew Hill. 13-Younger Division: Championship Flight -- Gregory Yates. First Flight -- Joshua Davis. Second Flight -- Levy Joy. Third Flight -- Trevor Corbit. Fourth Flight -- Matthew McClure. Fifth Flight -- Sean Welsh. Sixth Flight -- Vincent Longoria. Seventh Flight -- Nicholas Roye. Eighth Flight -- Nicholas Cychol. Ninth Flight -- Luke Eaton. 10th Flight -- Garrett James. 11th Flight -- Beau Campbell. 12th Flight -- Austin Hurley.