JOHNS CREEK, GA (October 25, 2009)--Defending champion David Noll Jr. of Dalton captured his second-straight and third overall Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship with a 3-and-2 win in the final match over Christian Raynor of Kennesaw. The 91st annual event took place at Rivermont Golf and Country Club, October 22-25, 2009.

Noll played very steady golf, making few mistakes and never trailing in the match that went 16 holes. After both he and Raynor birdied the 533-yard second hole, Noll took a 1-up lead when Raynor posted bogey on No. 3. Raynor then found the creek fronting the green on No. 5 and took double-bogey on the hole to give Noll a 2-up advantage.

Noll gained another hole when Raynor’s approach on No. 7 found a bunker tucked behind the green and he again had to settle for bogey. Noll made the turn with a 3-up lead, shooting even-par 36 on the front nine with one birdie and one bogey.

Raynor won his first hole of the match with a birdie on the 302-yard 11th hole. Noll’s tee shot flew the green and his comeback attempt had too much and rolled off the front of the green. Raynor’s tee shot found a small bunker in front of the green, but he chipped to 12 feet and sank the birdie putt.

Noll got his lead back to 3 up with par on No. 13, after Raynor’s approach shot landed not far from the hole, but spun down the steep slope at the front of the green. Both players then posted pars the rest of the way, with Noll clinching the title on the 16th hole.

Noll, who also won this Championship in 2005, joins select company as only six golfers have won this event at least three times during its 91-year run, including Charles Black Jr. of Atlanta (1927, ’30, ’41) and Gene Dahlbender Jr. of Atlanta (six titles from 1946-62), Charles Harrison of Atlanta (10 titles from 1952-77), Jerry Greenbaum of Atlanta (1960, ’63, ’67) and Bob Young of Dunwoody (1974, ’84, ’85).

Entries were open to male amateur golfers who are Georgia residents and members of a GSGA Member Club. Notable former champions include Perry Adair (1916, 1922), Charlie Yates (1931), Tommy Barnes (1936), Dan Yates (1942), Gene Dahlbender (1946-47, 1957-59, 1962), Bobby Jones’ son, Robert T. Jones, III, (1948), Charles Harrison (1952-54, 1961, 1965, 1967-1969, 1973, 1977), Larry Mize (1979) and Danny Yates (1981-82).

Founded in 1916, the Georgia State Golf Association (GSGA) received its official charter on June 24, 1924. Since that date, the GSGA has grown to one of the largest state amateur golf associations in the country, with over 355 member clubs and 85,000 individual members. With a mission to promote and preserve amateur golf in the state of Georgia, GSGA offers a computerized handicapping service, course rating and measuring, and annually conducts a full schedule of statewide competitions for men and women of all age groups. Other services include a summer-long junior sectional program, award-winning Golf Georgia magazine, membership recognition and rewards programs and a charitable foundation administering two college scholarship programs.

Final

Seed	Player		Seed	Player	Result
1	David Noll Jr., Dalton	def.	14	Christian Raynor, Kennesaw	3 & 2

Quarterfinals

Seed	Player		Seed	Player	Result
1	David Noll Jr., Dalton	def.	24	Bill Bergin, Atlanta	4 & 3
5	Jeff Belk, Marietta	def.	20	Michael Motz, Milton	3 & 2
2	Bill Jones, Covington	def.	23	Jordan Mitchell, Atlanta	2 & 1
14	Christian Raynor, Kennesaw	def.	11	Ryan Parnell, Atlanta	2 & 1

Round of 16