Patrick Fishburn is Utah State Amateur champion
Patrick Fishburn with Utah State Amateur trophy
(UGA Photo)
ALPINE, UT (July 16, 2016) -- In a 4&2 championship match victory at Alpine Country Club No. 3 Patrick Fishburn captured the 118th Utah State Amateur. Fishburn defeated No. 61 Aaron Smith in the final.
Fishburn, a rising junior at BYU, won the first hole of the 36-hole championship match and quickly jumped out to a 4 up lead through eight holes. However, despite the early deficit Smith fought back and squared the match at the end of the opening 18-holes.
Things remained all square until the 22nd hole when Fishburn, one of the tournament favorites moved in front for good. The win on hole 22 began a stretch of four wins in five holes to take a firm grasp of the match. Fishburn was able to wrap things up on the 34th hole.
The fact that Smith was in the final was a miracle in itself. Playing in Friday's semifinals Smith collapsed after putting out on the 11th hole due to back spasms and exhaustion. Smith had to be taken to the ambulance by hospital and after a few hours the doctors cleared him to continue the match the following day. When play resumed on Saturday Smith held a 1 up lead and went on to beat Kyler Dearden 3&1.
Fishburn reached the finals with a 3&2 win over Ryan Barber.
-The Salt Lake Tribune contributed to this story
View results for Utah State Amateur
ABOUT THE Utah State Amateur
Those who qualify, along with the exempt players,
will advance to a
36-hole qualifying. The low 64 qualifiers will advance
into match play.
There will be one round of match play on
Wednesday, two rounds of
match play on Thursday and Friday, and a 36-hole
championship
match on Saturday.
View Complete Tournament Information