Best shot of 2020: How about a walk-off double eagle to win by 1?

7/30/2020 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

Caleb Manuel (UConn Men's Golf photo)

Tied on the final hole, UConn commit Caleb Manuel's opponent was on with an eagle putt; one swing later the tournament was over

By UConn Men's Golf Caleb Manuel is certainly making the most of his last few weeks of golf before heading to Storrs for his freshman year at UConn. In May, the 18-year-old Manuel (Topsham, Me.) set a course record when he shot a 59 at his home course, the Brunswick Golf Club. Last week, Manuel finished a strong third at the rain-shortened New England Amateur Championship in Concord, Mass. But it's going to be hard for Manuel to ever top his finish at Wednesday's Maine State Golf Association Junior Championship at Gorham Country Club. Tied at the top of the leaderboard with Armand Ouellette as they teed off on the par-5 18th hole, Manuel put his tee shot into the right rough, some 193 yards short of the hole. With Ouellette on the green in two, waiting to attempt his eagle putt, Manuel pulled out his 6-iron and crushed a shot that took one high bounce to get up on the green, then rolled 10 feet straight into the cup for a double-eagle two, clinching the tournament championship. "That was probably the biggest rush I've had playing golf and probably the biggest rush I'll ever have until I maybe do something bigger in the future years," Manuel told local reporters. "But an albatross to win by one? That's something you don't see every day." The dramatic ending by Manuel allowed him to finish the tourney with a 9-under 67-66=133, setting a junior amateur record for low score and tying the record for relation to par. Ouellette, who made the eagle putt on 18, finished with an 8-under 66-68=134. The two players battled throughout the final round. Ouellete had a one-shot lead at the start of the round and went up two shots with a birdie on the sixth hole. But Manuel battled back and tied the match with a birdie on the 15th hole. The pair was tied again after the 17th hole, setting up the amazing finish. Manuel is scheduled to play in The Maine Event, a tourney limited to only Maine professionals and amateurs, on Aug. 12-13 at Augusta Country Club, before he heads to Storrs for his freshman year.

About the Maine Junior

The Championship will have five divisions: two Girls’ Division 16-18, 15 and under, plus three Boys’ age divisions; 12 and under, 13-15 and 16-18. Entries are open to amateur golfers who have not reached their 19th birthday.

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