Chase Johnson wins Northern Amateur in dramatic fashion
July 24, 2015 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: Chase Johnson, View results for Northern Amateur, Sand Creek Country Club
Chase Johnson and Jacob McBride dueled in a five-hole playoff that ended with a made chip for the win
CHESTERTON, Ind. (July 24, 2015) — There was a dramatic finish in the 2015 Northern Amateur at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton, Indiana. Chase Johnson, a sophomore at Kent State University, was the leader coming into the final round but lost the opportunity to win in regulation when he bogeyed the 18th hole.
That bogey dropped him into a tie for the lead with North Carolina State’s Jacob McBride, who also could have won it outright but his double bogey on the 18th hole left him in a tie with Johnson, finishing at 7-under (209).
They played a three-hole cumulative playoff where both Johnson and McBride had opportunities that they couldn’t capitalize on. McBride had his second opportunity to close out a win on 18, and failed for the second time.
"I do not like that hole. It just does not suit my eye," McBride told the Chicago Tribune. "I just wish I could've made a five there once."
They went to sudden death. On the first hole, Johnson nearly holed out for eagle, putting it so close he thought he had made it.
“I thought for sure that one was in,” Johnson told NWI.com
McBride made his birdie to match him and push the match to another hole, a 123-yard par-3. He then put himself in excellent position on his tee shot, placing a wedge within 10 feet of the pin. Johnson ended up just off the green in the rough. This time, he hit his chip perfectly and this time it did go in.
"I hit that putt many times in my practice round," Johnson told the Tribune. "I knew what it was doing. I just had to get it started."
Johnson had to keep his emotions in check while McBride attempted his tying putt.
“Everything exploded inside me when (the chip) went in,” Johnson said to NWI.com. “I just wanted to stay in the moment (when McBride was putting). He makes putts like the one he took every day. I was kind of surprised it didn’t go in.”
McBride, who had his putter working well until then, simply didn’t hit his putt hard enough.
Johnson will return to Kent State where he led the Golden Flashes golf team with a 74.25 scoring average.
Results: Northern Amateur
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Barberton, OH | 400 | 70-65-74=209 | |
| T1 | Hartville, OH | 300 | 68-71-70=209 | |
| 3 | Rochester, NY | 200 | 69-70-71=210 | |
| T4 | Pebble Beach, CA | 200 | 66-75-70=211 | |
| T4 | Lake Placid, NY | 200 | 70-70-71=211 |
About the Northern Amateur
Popular national amateur tournament played from 1967-2001 (with a solid list of past champions) returned to the schedule in 2011. 54-hole stroke play championship with a field of 96 players. Par-3 contest held after round 1.
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