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The busiest people at Whispering Pines Golf Club on Sunday were the volunteers updating the leaderboards on the golf course as the lead – and leader – seemed to change on almost every hole. But in the end it was Holland who managed his game and his nerves to claim his first State Amateur Championship.

In a very special moment in Texas Amateur history, the president of the TGA, who presents the trophy to the champion, happened to be Charlie’s father Malcolm, the current president of the Texas Golf Association.

Holland shot a final-round 75 for a 72-hole total of 286, 2-under par. Tied for second at one over par were Robby Ormand of Austin, who was runner-up in the 2004 State Amateur, and Andrew Landry of Grove.

Ormand was tied for the lead on a couple of occasions in the final round, but made a double bogey on 16, and then bogey at the last hole for a final round 74. Landry had also climbed the leader board and was only one shot back going to the final hole, but his approach shot hit the front edge of the green and rolled back into the water, leading to a double bogey and a final round 72.

“I was watching (the leader boards) and knew what was going on,” Holland said. “I knew it was close, and when I three putted 12 for par I got a little nervous.”

After a birdie on 14 and a bogey on 15 he was back in the lead, but faced a 10 foot putt to save par on 16.

“Making that putt was huge for me,” Holland said. “I knew I was up by at least two on 18, but I was shaking on that second shot.”

The 18th hole is a 464-yard par four with an approach entirely over water to a severely sloping green.

“I hit a seven iron and sort of hit it fat and thought I might have hit it in the water.”

That was not the case as the ball landed safely on the green, hole high some 20 feet away. Two putts later he had earned the title of Texas State Amateur Champion.

All of the players in contention said they were watching the on-course leader boards and getting updates, so they knew where they stood and how things were changing constantly. The final stretch of holes at Whispering Pines lived up to its billing, with birdies and bogies all around. Terrence Miskell, two off the pace going into the final round, again struggled early, fought his way back, then found the water on the 15th hole and made double bogey. He ended up with a final round 77 (290) to finish alone in fourth. Zack Reeves, the 2005 State Amateur runner-up, had a final round 72 (291) to finish fifth.

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-Story courtesy TXGA