Sam Engel (Arizona G.A. photo)
After four rounds at TPC Scottsdale – Champions Course, Scottsdale’s Sam Engel (9-under) secured the 2023 AGA Mid-Amateur Championship in a dramatic final round. Braving windy conditions throughout the week, Engel fired a four-day total of 66-68-70-71 to bring home the Kachina.
All tournament long, some of the AGA’s best players were looking up at the leaderboard at Jake Byrum (-8). Engel came into the final round in sole possession of second place, three strokes back of Byrum; the fourth round proved to be troublesome for much of the field, as it featured the windiest conditions and most difficult pins of the tournament.
Just two players – Engel and Brian Blanchard – shot even par in the final round; it was just enough for Engel to hang around as Byrum struggled, carding four birdies on the front nine holes. Engel’s round was highlighted by a 50-foot birdie putt on hole 9 and a 4-iron shot on a 215-yard, 16th hole that set up a 20-foot birdie putt.
“I love playing in the wind. You’ve got to strike the ball really well to get the ball to go where you want, so you really have to commit to your shots,” Engel said.
“I was able to not get bullied too much by the wind. I just kind of took my medicine, played to the middle of the greens and made a big putt on (hole) nine to get some momentum going and I was able to hang around while it got really windy out there and grind some pars out.”
The AGA will stick around TPC Scottsdale – Champions Course for three more days, as they are set to host the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship beginning tomorrow. The 32-player field is highlighted by the AGA’s reigning Women’s Player of the Year Tori Totlis.
View results for Arizona Mid-Amateur
ABOUT THE Arizona Mid-Amateur
72-holes of individual stroke play at gross. A cut to the
low 60-players + ties will be made after 36 holes.
Participants must hold an active
membership
with an AGA Member Club.
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