Jackson rolls to first city golf title

SANDUSKY — Wayne Jackson paused before putting on the 23rd hole of the Mills Creek City Golf Championship on Sunday morning. Jackson was looking good, up four holes over Kyle Hallock in the 36-hole match play final, when a bug flew into his left eye. No problem. Jackson responded by rolling in a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-4 No. 6 hole and shifted into cruise control on his way to his first city championship title. "It was flying in the corner of my eye and I couldn't pull it out," Jackson said. "By the time I got it out, I don't know, I just looked up, saw the line and rolled it in. "That was the turning point for my mental state, like 'I'm gonna pretty much make everything from here on out.' Once I make a few it's just a confidence thing after that." Jackson had won the previous hole by going up and down for birdie from next to the green on the par-5 No. 5 hole. "For the longest time, I've been the longest hitter out here and they always said I never had a wedge and putting game," Jackson said. "I turned that around for sure. I focused hard on that the last few years." After making the long birdie putt on No. 6, Jackson won three more holes then halved two more for a decisive 8 and 7 win. "I played pretty well. Actually felt like I could've played much better," he said. "Played solid enough to get the job done. I was getting up and down and making some putts and that was the turning point." Jackson, 38, nearly chipped in on No. 8 and made a tap-in par as Hallock bogeyed. Jackson and Hallock both reached the par-5 No. 9 hole in two. Jackson put an exclamation point on his win by draining a 20-foot eagle putt before Hallock missed a 15-footer for eagle. "He played extremely well and I didn't play as well as I had been to keep pace with him," said Hallock, a Perkins graduate and Bowling Green State University's baseball coach. "A lot of it had to do with his complete game, tee to green. He was outstanding around the green, too." Jackson was only 2 up after 18 holes before carding eight pars, two birdies and an eagle over the last 11 holes. "I just want to give my best when I need it and I've never had it," Jackson said. "Today I kind of had it. As long as you're striking the ball well and have confidence in yourself you can do anything." Jackson was making his third appearance in the city finals. He lost to eight-time champion Shawn Bahnsen and Tim Belden the first two times he got to this stage. Jackson, who got a hug from Bahnsen after making par on the par-4 No. 2 hole to end the 29-hole match in 4 hours, dominated the tournament. He won 6 and 4 in the first round and rolled to a 7 and 6 win in the quarterfinals. In Saturday's semifinals, Jackson defeated Gabe Zeller 6 and 5. Pretty strong showing for a guy who didn't get to warm up as much as he'd like. "It does take me a little time to get moving," Jackson said. "I'm an hour-at-the-range kind of guy. I love Mills, but we don't have a practice facility here so it's very hard for me to get moving. I need like an hour minimum, hit 70, 80 balls, chipping and putting for a half hour, just to get the feel out the door. "Once the putter works, that's my game after that." Jackson grew up in Sandusky and lives in Monroeville. He works for LogistiQ, a division of LEWCO, in Port Clinton. Jackson tried to qualify for the U.S. Open in 2019. His golf career took a dip during COVID, but he isn't giving up on taking the next step. "After COVID hit, competition really dropped off," he said. "I'm just getting back into it. I'm gonna try some Monday Korn Ferry qualifiers next year. "I'll come back here and defend, too, just to play, but I'm definitely gonna step into the big game next year, for sure."