Pizzano takes the Savannah Quarters Invitational in playoff

July 20, 2020 | by Brayden Conover of AmateurGolf.com

Carlo Pizzano (WJCL photo)

Carlo Pizzano matches McClure Thompson shot for shot before snatching a win on the 55th hole

Loyola (Maryland) sophomore Carlo Pizzano held off McClure Thompson in a playoff to win the 2nd annual Savannah Quarters Invitational at The Club at Savannah Quarters in Pooler, Ga. Thompson was trying to become the second "McClure" of the weekend to win a big tournament. McClure Meissner took home the Southern Amateur Championship at Maridoe in a playoff, but Thompson could not quite match the feat. Sharing a one-shot overnight lead, Thompson and Pizzano were paired together in the final round. Thompson posted an opening 2-under 70 and a 6-under 66 while Pizzano opened with a 66 and followed it up with a 70 of his own. The pair had an eventful final 18. Pizzano took an early lead but fell behind by two with a double-bogey and a bogey on holes No. 8 and 9. Thompson was up and down, with three birdies and three bogeys to turn at even-par 36. Both players elevated their games on the back nine, with Pizzano going four under and Thompson three under to put Thompson one shot up on the 18th tee at 11 under. Perhaps feeling the pressure, Thompson came away with a bogey, and the two made their way back to the 18th tee, each having shot 2-under 70. Both making pars on the first playoff hole (No. 18), Pizzano called 'game' on No. 1. Playing aggressively, Pizzano nearly holed out from the fairway as his ball came to rest just inches from the pin. Thompson, needing a birdie to extend the match, could not do so, giving Pizzano the crown as the second winner of the SQI. Alex Locke (68) and Sam Sikes (70) shared third at 8 under, two shots out of the playoff. Walker Jones (70), Alex Doss (69) and Owen Burt (71) tied for fifth at 7 under.

The shot of the tournament was struck by Blaise Vanitvelt, who aced the 314-yard par-4 11th hole in the final round en route to a 70. Defending club champion and inaugural Savannah Quarters champ, Joey Kalbac, could not muster the same magic he had last year as he finished T-55 at 14-over-par. Related: Savannah Quarters champ Kalbac hopes to put tourney on the map

Results: Savannah Quarters Invitational

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Carlo Pizzano	College Park, MD	300	66-70-70=206
2	McClure Thompson	Little River, SC	200	70-66-70=206
T3	Alex Locke	Wentzville, MO	100	69-71-68=208
T3	Samuel Sikes	Richmond, VA	100	68-70-70=208
T5	Walker Jones	Sumter, SC	100	69-70-70=209

View full results for Savannah Quarters Invitational

About the Savannah Quarters Invitational

Pizzano takes the Savannah Quarters Invitational in playoff

NOTE: Tournament will not be held in 2022 but should that change AG will post the new dates. Started in 2019, the Savannah Quarters Invitational is a 54-hole stroke play championship drawing a national field. The host venue was designed by Greg Norma...