Colin Bowles outlasts Spencer Ralston in Georgia Amateur final
7/17/2016 | by Georgia State Golf Association
see also: View results for Georgia Amateur, Ocean Forest Golf Club
It took all 18-holes and a rally from behind for Colin Bowles to win the Georgia Amateur
ATLANTA, GA (July 17, 2016) -- The final match between Colin Bowles of Albany and Spencer Ralston of Gainesville came down to the 18th hole with Bowles walking away the Centennial Georgia Amateur champion. The match play portion of the state championship took place at the Brookhaven Course of Capital City Club, July 15-17.
The match started with Ralston gaining momentum over the first nine holes, taking a 2 up lead at the turn. Ralston, a soon-to-be Georgia Bulldog, took hole 10 and took a 3 up advantage with eight holes to play. Not backing down, Bowles caught fire on the final nine holes by claiming four of the next five. With two holes to play, both players walked to the 17th tee all square. Ralston found a bit of trouble and Bowles made what he had to for a 1 up lead with one to play. With the final match coming down to the 18th hole, the players halved the hole with bogeys, giving Bowles his first state championship.
The 16-year-old champion paved his way through the bracket by winning five matches in three days. On Friday in the round of 32, Bowles defeated Trey Pearson of Dacula, 3 and 2. That afternoon in the round of 16, he beat Cameron Hooper of Atlanta, 4 and 3. The quarterfinals and semifinals were held on Saturday, where Bowles earned wins over Tim Arnoult, Jr., of Roswell (3 and 2) and Kris Mikkelsen of Atlanta (2 up), respectively.
Ralston, who earned runner-up honors - his best finish at a Georgia Amateur Championship - began his run to the finals with wins over Michael Hines of Woodstock (4 and 2) in the round of 32 and Nickolaus Budd of Woodstock (1 up) in the round of 16. Ralston defeated Christopher Harris of Atlanta, 3 and 2, in the quarterfinals. He then beat Luke Schniederjans of Powder Springs, 3 and 1, in the semifinals.
The Bowles victory makes him the youngest ever to win the Georgia Amateur Championship since the very first winner 100 years ago, and that was a 14-year-old boy named Bobby Jones.
Those making it all the way to the quarterfinals with Bowles and Ralston include Harris, Schniederjans, 2015 Georgia Amateur champion Dru Love of St. Simons Island, Arnoult, Tyler Joiner of Leesburg and Mikkelsen.
A 36-hole stroke play qualifier was held at the Crabapple Course of Capital City Club in Woodstock on Tuesday and Wednesday. The 32 players who made match play have earned an exemption into next year's Georgia Amateur Championship
About the Georgia Amateur
A field of 144 of the state's best will compete over 72 holes of stroke play with the field cut to the low 70 and ties after 36 holes. Open to male amateur golfers; non-exempt players enter through one of 11 statewide qualifiers
Most Popular Articles
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced
Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing
2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING
Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Final Stage: Ewart Leads Five New TOUR Card Winners
Dec 14, 2025A.J. Ewart topped Final Stage at TPC Sawgrass, leading five players who secured PGA TOUR membership for 2026.
Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
Luke Ringkamp Cruises to Rolex Tournament of Champions Title at TPC San Antonio
Nov 26, 2025One week after committing to Pepperdine, Luke Ringkamp won the Rolex Tournament of Champions by nine shots.