Brandon Holt, the mayor of Pineview in Twiggs County, was arrested back in January after a GBI investigation accused Holt of stealing nearly $65,000 from the city of fewer than 500 residents.

For Brandon Holt, the persistent drizzle was a total nuisance as he stood on the precipice of reaching the US Open main draw. “When you’re a little kid or you’re on the outside, you think ...