Saying he doesn't have the length to keep up with the younger players he goes against on the county golf schedule, Chandler did well enough in other areas this weekend to post two 67s and win the Cane Creek Invitational.
Chandler's two-day 10-under 134 was one shot better than long-hitting first-round co-leader Gary Wigington, who put on a late charge and wound up shooting 69, and four better than Best of the Best Series points leader Jeremy McGatha.
"One thing about this course here, besides four or five holes, the length really hurts," Chandler said. "I was getting out-driven 70 and 80 yards by these guys. It's just sickening how far they're hitting the ball and how short I hit it.
"If I had these guys' distance, I think I could play a little better than what I've played."
No one was arguing about the way Chandler played this weekend. Besides, they're something to be said for keeping the ball in play.
On Sunday, he hit nine fairways — more than any of his playing partners — and 15 greens in regulation, 13 of his first 14 and 12 in a row at one point. He made 13 birdies during the weekend and played Cane Creek's demanding Hollow — holes 10 through 13 — in 4-under for the two days.
"That's probably where I won it at," he said.
Chandler was three shots down to first round co-leader Nathan Bennett after two holes, but had a share of the lead three holes later and a four-shot lead through 11 holes.
If not for Wigington's charge, he might have truly run away with his first series victory since last year's Pine Hill Invitational.
Wigington played the last seven holes in 5-under, including birdie-eagle-par-birdie during a string of five straight 3s starting at No. 12. But each time Wigington cut a stroke, Chandler had an answer.
The eventual winner even birdied the par-5 14th to diminish the damage of Wigington eagling the hole for the second day in a row.
"I finally made my first birdie," Wigington said, "and I felt like if I ever made one, I'd have a chance to make several. But Ott played great. He made every putt coming in.
"You felt like no matter what you did you weren't gaining any ground. You go 4-under in four holes and gain one shot. That's pretty tough there, demoralizing. But he made every putt he needed to, which is what it takes to win."
Chandler finally hiccupped with a bogey on 17, and it cut his lead to one going to the par-5 18th, a hole Wigington's length would give him an advantage at.
Wigington did hit the best drive, in the fairway about 190 to the greenside bunker, but each player was short of the green with his approach.
Each easily chipped on, Wigington going a little long and Chandler inside three feet. Wigington made his birdie putt, forcing Chandler to make his to avoid a playoff. Chandler made it.
"I needed one more, I just didn't get it," said Wigington, who finished third last week at Cider Ridge. "But it was fun. I was glad to be back in the hunt."
Bennett opened a two-shot lead on the field after making birdie at No. 2, but started spraying the ball in the middle of the round and steadily fell back.
Three bogeys in the Hollow took away any chance he had left. He shot 75.
"I guess my inner demons got the best of me," Bennett said. "I started trying to guide the ball and just started hitting it poorly. After my tee shot on 9 it just kind of hit me.
"I started feeling nervous or something. I wasn't afraid of the situation, it was just the thing I've been struggling with for the past couple years, guiding the ball, wanting it to go where I wanted it to so bad."
