Hunter Hamrick uses strong final round to win Birmingham National Invitational
11/2/2024 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
see also: View results for Birmingham National Invitational, Country Club of Birmingham - West Course
The former Alabama standout and current caddie for Nick Dunlap finished 6-under to win by three shots
Hunter Hamrick of Pike Road, Ala., used four birdies on the back nine of his final round to win the Birmingham National Invitational at the Country Club of Birmingham, the West Course, in Birmingham, Ala.
Hamrick entered the final round five shots back of 36-hole leader Sean Rowan of Greenwood, Ind., but he quickly made his way up the leaderboard after Rowan made four bogeys in his first in his first eight holes.
Hamrick finished 6-under with rounds of 71-69-67 to win by three shots.
"I wasn't really paying attention to the leaderboard and the golf genius, so I didn't know that (Sean) got off to a rough start, but I knew I was playing well and figured I was close to the lead," Hamrick said.
Hamrick recorded eight birdies and four bogeys in his 4-under 67 final round. He made birdies on holes No. 12, 13, 15, and 16 to pull away from the field.
"I just played really good golf through that stretch," Hamrick said. "I hit a couple of close shots and gave myself some looks. My putter was good all three days, and that was a stretch of really good golf."
Hamrick has played in the NIT once before, finishing T11 last year.
The former Alabama standout was an assistant coach for Alabama from 2021-23 and has since become the full-time caddie for PGA Tour pro Nick Dunlap.
"I was working another job when he asked me to caddie for him at the Amex," Hamrick said. "I did it for him as something to do, and he ended up winning, so I kept doing it."
Hamrick added about his own golfing career, "It's a little different now. I don't get a lot of opportunities to do this and play in these events. You will be gone for most of them next year. I still try to play a few events a year. Just for my own sake, it is fun to hit the shots and be the one swinging the club.
"It is also good for me in my profession to get in the nerves and get a feel for it," Hamrick said.
Matt Vogt of Indianapolis, Ind., and Mitchell Ford of Little Rock, Ark., finished T2 at 3-under, Stewart Whitt of Athens, Ala., and Rowen finished T4 at 2-under.
Results: Birmingham National Invitational
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montgomery, AL | 300 | 71-69-67=207 | |
| 2 | Indianapolis, IN | 200 | 73-69-68=210 | |
| 3 | Little Rock, AR | 100 | 70-68-72=210 | |
| 4 | Athens, AL | 100 | 68-71-72=211 | |
| 5 | Greenwood, IN | 100 | 69-66-76=211 |
About the Birmingham National Invitational
This 54-hole stroke play event, formerly held the weekend after Memorial Day but moved to November in 2020, dates back to the early 1900's and is also known as the "NIT". Draws a field of national-level mid-amateurs.
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