Sam Anderson (2nd from left) is the 17th St. Augustine Amateur champion
Sam Anderson (Stoughton, Wisc.) shot a final-round 4-under 66 to narrowly edge ahead of
Jordan Doull (Australia) and win the 17th St. Augustine Amateur at St. Johns Golf Club in Elkton, Fla.
Anderson, a senior at the University of Wisconsin, took control of the tournament early on the back nine, rebounding from his lone bogey of the day with an eagle at the par-5 12th, and adding a birdie at the par-3 14th to get to 8 under par for the tournament.
Playing two groups ahead of the leaders, Anderson was able to post 8 under as the target score, and watched as Doull was unable to get the birdie he needed on 18 to force a playoff.
Doull, a junior at Columbus State, started the day tied for the lead with University of North Florida's Cody Carroll (Middleburg, Fla.) at 7 under, with Anderson three shots back. Carroll would fall back early with a double and bogey, but Mauro Baez of Argentina and Flagler College took his place in the lead with three birdies in his first six holes.
Doull started the day with seven straight pars, but a bogey at the par-3 8th hole combined with Anderson's birdie one hole ahead gave Anderson a share of the lead for the first time in the tournament. Baez, too, bogeyed the 8th hole and dropped two more shots early on the back nine, effectively ending his chances.
Anderson's bogey gave Doull the lead again, but with his eagle at the 13th he regained it by a shot. Doull's birdie at the 12th tied it up briefly, but Anderson pulled ahead again with his birdie at the 14th and would not lose his lead after that.
Doull closed with an even-par 70 to finish solo second at 7 under. Baez finished third at 5 under with a final-round 69.
Sam Nicholson (Atlantic Beach, Fla.) of the University of South Florida made a move on Sunday, with a 67 that included seven birdies, to pull into a 4th-place tie at 4 under. Sampson Zheng (70) of Cal-Berkeley and first-round co-leader Nick Gabrelcik (71) of North Florida were also at 4 under.
Carroll finished tied for 7th after a 74.
The defending champion, Ty Gingerich of the Unviersity of Cincinnati, shot a 69 to finish 9th at 2 under.
The low mid-amateur was Toby Ragland of Jacksonville, who shot rounds of 72-72-67 to finish tied 15th at 1 over par.
ABOUT THE St. Augustine Amateur
The St. Augustine Amateur is a national event
established in 2004 for top
amateur and collegiate players. The 54-hole
stroke
play, walking only,
competition is conducted over three days with
no
cut. The
player
caddies, walking referees, standard bearers and
forecaddies really add to the
experience. The field is
limited to 84 players whose golf resumes and
tournament experience have
earned them a spot in the field. The winner
receives
the John C. Jennison III
Trophy.
The tournament
is open to Amateurs only whose entry has been
accepted by the Tournament
Committee however there is an open qualifier
prior
to the event.
View Complete Tournament Information