JOHNS CREEK, Ga. (Oct. 10, 2010) -- High school senior Anders Albertson of Woodstock jumped out to a big early lead and never relinquished it, defeating two -time defending champion David Noll Jr. of Dalton, 5 and 4, in Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship. The 92nd annual event took place at Rivermont Golf & Country Club, October 7-10.
Albertson, who turned 17 in June, is certainly among the youngest competitors to win the Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship, and is believed to be the youngest champion since Charlie Yates of Atlanta won the 1931 event also at age 17. It is believed that the legendary Perry Adair of Atlanta is the youngest champion in event history. Adair, who was born in 1900, won the 1916 Championship at Atlanta’s Druid Hills Golf Club.
Albertson, who attends Etowah High School, has verbally committed to play golf for Georgia Tech.
After both players parred the first and second holes, Noll then posted four straight bogeys to give Albertson a 4-up lead through six. Albertson pocketed a birdie on the 167-yard six.
Albertson posted his second birdie on the 550-yard 10th hole, and Noll bogeyed that one as well, pushing Albertson’s lead to 5-up. Noll did come back with a birdie on No. 11, but another bogey at the 13th moved the match to dormie five in Albertson’s favor. A par for both at the 148-yard 14th clinched the match for Albertson. Through 14 holes, he was playing at a 2-under clip with no bogeys.
After tying for 12th place in qualifying with a 73, Albertson faced some of the state’s top mid-amateurs on his road to the Championship. In the first round he posted a 3-and-2 win over 1981 Georgia Amateur champion Bill Bergin of Atlanta; edged stroke-play medalist Greg Kennedy of Duluth, 1 up, in the round of 16; topped Tom Price Jr. of Marietta, 1 up, in the quarterfinals and outlasted recent Clayton State golfer Wade Binfield of Fayetteville, 2 and 1, in the semifinals before facing Noll.
View results for Atlanta Match Play
ABOUT THE Atlanta Match Play
Entries: Open to male amateur golfers
Field: 120 players with the lowest USGA
Handicap
Indexes
Format: Match play preceded by 18-hole stroke
play qualifying. Low 31 and defending champion
advance to match play.
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