Brock Healy captures JAGA First Coast Amateur

January 17, 2023 | by Sean Melia of AmateurGolf.com

Brock Healy (JAGA)

The Kennesaw State University golfer played a near perfect final round including three late birdies to win at Hidden Hills GC

On a weekend when when Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars completed an historic comeback, Kennesaw State University graduate student Brock Healy claimed a big victory of his own in the seventh JAGA First Coast Amateur at Hidden Hills Golf Club in Jacksonville, Fla.

Mats Ege It took a strong finish of his own for Healy to catch Norway's Mats Ege. Healy (Norcross, Ga.) resident and sports management major posted scores of 71-69-65 to take the title by a single shot. Healy saved his best for last, as his blemish-free 65, including seven birdies, was the tournament’s lowest score.

The final round lined up as a two-horse race. Healy and Ege were well clear of the field, but Ege held a one shot lead after the first two rounds.

Both Ege and Healy made three birdies on their front nine, but Ege's bogey on the third hole left the duo in a tie for the lead as they made the turn for home. Healy fired a 33 and Ege a 34.

The superb golf carried over to the back nine. Ege birdied hole Nos. 12 and 14 while Healy birdied hole Nos. 10 and 14.

The final four holes saw two lead changes and a total of three birdies between Healy and Ege. Ege landed the first blow with a birdie on the 15th hole; Healy hit back with a birdie of his own on the par-3 16th hole.

On the 17th hole, Healy hit his approach to five feet. When Ege's 20-foot putt missed, Healy stepped up and sank his birdie putt to grab a one shot lead. The Norwegian had one more attempt to tie his opponent with a 12-footer for birdie on No. 18 but missed, and Healy tapped in for par and the win.

This was a big win for Healy, as he hasn't contended in many events over the last few years. He recorded no top-10 finishes in 2022, so this was a positive way to kick-off 2023.

Results: First Coast Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Brock Healy	Norcross, GA	300	71-69-65=205
2	Mats Ege	, Norway	200	70-69-67=206
3	Ty Gingerich	Carmel, IN	100	74-70-68=212
T4	Nick Dentino	Carmel, IN	100	74-74-68=216
T4	Jakob Henriksson	, Sweden	100	76-72-68=216

View full results for First Coast Amateur

About the First Coast Amateur

Brock Healy captures JAGA First Coast Amateur

The Jacksonville First Coast Amateur is one of the Southeast’s premier early-season amateur championships, bringing together elite players from across the eastern United States for 54 holes of stroke play at Deerwood Country Club in Jacksonville, Flo...