WATKINSVILLE — The beginning of Spencer Ralston's pro career saw a little bit of everything over four days at the L&J Championship at Jennings Mill Country Club, part of the Forme Tour.
He closed out his first tournament as a professional shooting an even-par 72 on Saturday's final round to finish at 4-under par and tied for 40th place.
However, for a brief time in the second round he was tied for the lead at 10-under par on a course he is intimately familiar with. But he struggled over the final four holes during a rough third round that knocked him out of contention.
Still, it was a successful week for the former Gainesville High and Georgia standout, who made the cut and earned money for the first time.
On Saturday, after dropping to just 2-under for the tournament, he went 2-under over his final 12 holes, including birdies on Nos. 16, 1, 6, and 7 to finish at 4-under for the tournament.
"It was fun getting to start a new chapter in my career this week and I'm looking forward to the road ahead," Ralston said after his final round was complete. "I had a solid first day and a half but from then on I just struggled off the tee and didn't give myself enough birdie opportunities. I wish it had been a little better weekend, but that's golf and things don't always go as planned."
Ralston fired a 4-under 68 in the opening round on Wednesday and followed that with a 3-under 69 on Thursday to sit in the top 10 and make the cut. He was tied for the lead after his 11th hole in the third round but a double-bogey-bogey-par-triple-bogey sequence over four holes dropped back into the middle of the pack heading into Saturday's final round.
Ralston is not entered into the next Forme Tour event next week in Auburn, Ala., and is still in the planning stages on getting onto the tour on a permanent basis.
"I didn't get in (Auburn) next week so I'm not sure what my schedule looks like from here on out at the moment," he said. "That's something I'll know more of here soon I guess."
