Eric Davenport repeats in Central Virginia Invitational Golf Tournament

CLIFFORD — After Eric Davenport won last year’s Central Virginia Invitational Golf Tournament, he took a break from tournament golf.

“Just weekend golf,” he said.

That alone was enough to keep Davenport sharp for a run at a repeat, a feat not accomplished in a half decade. As his competition struggled around him, Davenport stayed steady, carding a 3-under 68 Sunday at Winton County Club to claim his second straight tourney title.

Davenport finished four strokes clear of Rodney Laughon, the last man to claim consecutive tournament titles, winning in 2004 and 2005. Laughon posted a final-round 69, but he didn’t make enough putts to ever seriously get in contention.

He had no problem with losing the title as the last man to repeat at the CVIGT.

“Eric’s a great player,” Laughon said. “He’s very good under pressure. It’s exciting. It’s very cool to see your name up there twice. I’m happy for him.”

In the seniors division, Jim Gaddy won for the second time in three years, posting a final-round 76 and a three-day 223, putting him three strokes clear of Richard Ewers.

Gaddy won one CVIGT regulars championship, taking home the title in 1982.

Davenport, Bert Allen and Hunter Russell were all tied at 2-under for the tournament heading into the par-5 eighth hole when Davenport made the shot that changed the round.

He hit a 4 iron from the fairway to 15 feet and drained the putt for eagle, his first below-par hole of the day. Meanwhile, Russell struggled to a bogey and Allen had to save par. Davenport suddenly had opened a two-stroke lead.

“It started to a swing a little bit there,” Davenport said.

Allen responded nicely at No. 9, placing his tee shot on the par-3 hole to within three feet. He made birdie to pull within one of Davenport, who parred the hole.

Allen was still within two strokes heading into the par-5 14th hole, but a disastrous turn of events around the green knocked him out of the tournament.

He set up for his third shot, a soft chip from the rough near a greenside bunker. Allen took a light swing, and the ball popped straight into the air. Allen hit the ball on the follow through, resulting in a one-stroke penalty. He finished with a double bogey, and Davenport parred, pushing the lead to four strokes.

“It was a real delicate shot, and it got me in trouble,” said Allen, who finished in a tie for third with Russell at 214. “It was the type of lie that you could double hit. I thought about it. But I needed to hit the perfect shot. I was trailing. I needed to make something happen.”

Davenport sealed the tournament on the par-3 16th, hitting a 7 iron to within eight feet. Davenport sank the birdie putt, and the tournament title was within reach.

“It’s a good feeling,” Davenport said. “It’s really hard to defend a title. That was probably the biggest pleasure, being able to do this back-to-back.”