(Alabama Golf Association)

They will both be seniors at UAB and are great friends. It is unusual for the top two seeds to advance to the final, but the seedings proved a great form guide. When all was said and done, Montgomery’s Sutton claimed the victory over Trussville’s Love by a score of 4&3.

“It’s what I really wanted, to meet Sam in the final. I knew he was the No. 1 seed. We are great friends, but the final got competitive, which is as it should be,” Sutton said.

Sutton roared out to a 4 up lead through just six holes and “coasted in from there.”

However, Love, who recently lost in a playoff in the prestigious Southern Amateur, pulled back two holes to add some suspense. But Sutton then won two holes himself in a row to close out the match and claim this Alabama Golf Association State Championship.

“It hit me at the end that I’d won a state title. Seeing the names on the trophy and knowing mine would be added to them. This is my biggest win and I’m really excited.

“My game was a little off in recent weeks, but I’ve worked especially hard on my short game and felt it (his game) was strong again coming in to the week.”

So it proved.

In Saturday morning’s semifinals Love beat John-Michael O’Toole of Pinson, while Sutton dispatched former State Amateur Robbie Cotten of Brewton. Both won by scores of 2&1.

Both golfers now look forward to playing for UAB in their first fall tournament in September and it’s quite the event: the Topy Cup in Japan.

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