Golf: Ernst wins City Amateur

"Everybody knows me that way. They all know I take risks," the 41-year-old said Wednesday afternoon at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. "I never hold in. I go for everything. If I've got a swing, I take it. Everybody knows that."

It was that grip-and-rip style that paid off for Ernst, who won the championship match of the 49th annual Men's City Amateur tournament.

He needed only 32 of the scheduled 36 holes of match play to close out two-time city champ Mike Womble, 5 and 4.

It was Ernst's first trip to victory lane in the city championship. Womble, who led most of the way around the first 18-hole lap, put his name on the trophy in 1983 and 1987.

It wasn't until he won the 15th and 16th holes of the first 18 that Ernst was able to pull even with Womble. Ernst held a 1-up lead heading into the second 18.

Ernst said Womble's errant tee shot on the first hole of the second round gave him an inkling that the day might go his way.

"He kind of lost it a little bit when we started the second 18. He got a little shaky and hit one in the road on No. 1. Mike just doesn't do that kind of thing," said Ernst, the Naples resident who owns a fleet of street and parking lot sweeping machines in Fort Myers. "It's match play, though, and you know how that is. If you have one bad hole, it can cost you."

The weather threatened and soggy weather closed in on the two down the home stretch.

"I went through a time there where in five holes, I had four bogeys," Womble, also a two-time Collier County amateur champ, said. "He made some birdies and was on his way. We know each other's game well. His is more of a power game and mine is a finesse game. We had a wonderful time. He's a great guy and deserved to win."

Buoyed by his semifinal victory over the always-ready Lee Booker, Ernst said he "just started striking the ball better" to gain the upper hand in the match. He said he did not think one shot or hole in particular was the turning point.

While it was just Ernst and Womble out there on the course battling it out in what might have seemed like a relaxed environment, the champ said he did feel some pressure.

"You always feel a little pressure. But I've played in so many now, the pressure is pretty much not there anymore," he said. "I'm more competitive now. I'm getting that competitive edge now. Mike's always a good player so you know you've got to shoot real good or you're not going to beat somebody like Mike.

"When I smell blood, then I start hammerin'," he added. "He got down and I told myself I wasn't letting him back up. Because Mike is dangerous when he gets you down."

The city title is a delightful addition to Ernst's resume. It was in late September that he teamed with Booker to win the Mid-Senior FourBall South Championship at The Club at Renaissance in Fort Myers.

"That's my biggest accomplishment so far in golf," he reflected. "I've always wanted to win a state tournament."