Even football coaches can draw plays on the blackboard that don't go as planned.
Ethan Eppinette wanted to have the same mindset he had in Thursday's opening round of the 2017 ASGA Junior Amateur at Texarkana Country Club.
The 17-year-old Arkansas High golfer had shot even par for a one-shot lead in the boys 14-18 age division, but a poor start in Friday's final round had him 4-over-par on the front nine, and in third place.
Eppinette rallied with birdies at 11, 12 and 16 to shoot 2-under on the back and win the championship with a 74, and 36-hole total of 146. That was one shot better than 14-year-old Palmer McSpadden of Fayetteville, who had the tournament's low round Friday with a 3-under 69 to go with his opening 78.
"I simply didn't play well on the front with bogeys at three, four, six and nine," Eppinette said. "I had one bogey on the back, and made a couple of good par saves to keep me going. Going to eighteen I thought I was the leader and decided to go ahead a play aggressive like I had all week."
Eppinette hit his tee shot at the final hole well over the corner of the woods, leaving him a wedge shot into the green.
"I had a flyer lie," he said. "My second shot came up about six feet short of the green, and I putted from there to within three feet and made my par.
"Being from Arkansas and winning this tournament is definitely a big thing," Eppinette said. "I'm good friends with Garrett May (Texarkana golfer), he won this tournament twice. Winning this event helped him move forward in his junior career. I'm just proud of myself for keeping my wits after such a poor start. I felt some birdies would fall, I just didn't know when or where."
Connor Gaunt of Cabot finished third at 148. Jonesboro's Noah Minton followed at 149, while Josh McNulty of White Hall and Jackson Marseilles of Harrison posted 150 scores.
Conway's 16-year-old Casey Ott also held her first round lead to win the girls division with a 77 and 151 total. Elizabeth Moon of Forrest City rallied to finish second with a 74 and 152 total, while Josie Roberson of Maumelle posted here second straight 77 for third place.
"There was no pressure, I was just trying to have fun," said Ott, who also won this event when she was 13. "I had no birdies today, but a lot of good par saves.
"I really didn't understand what this event was all about when I won it the first time. There's great competition out here, and we played a great course. I had never played in Texarkana before. The fairways here are great and the greens good. There are a lot tiers on the greens so you have to hit it in the right spot for birdie opportunities."
Nash Johnson of Little Rock, won the boys 12-13 age bracket with a 75 and 156 total. Little Rock's Andrew Payne followed at 159, and Texarkana's 12-year-old Thomas Curry was third at 168.