Preston Worch shows consistency to win Dixie Amateur
December 22, 2024 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Preston Worch, View results for Dixie Men's Amateur, Eagle Trace Golf Club
Worch shot rounds of 69-71-69-69 to finish 10-under and win by four shots in Florida
Preston Worch of Delray Beach, Fla., was able to stay steady for all four rounds to win the 2024 Dixie Amateur at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, Fla.
Worch finished 10-under behind rounds of 69-71-69-69 to finish 10-under.
In his final round 3-under 69, Worch recorded five birdies and two bogeys, with three birdies in his back nine to close with a 33.
"I believe what best unlocked my final round 69 was my confidence in ball striking that helped me break through," Worch said. "Knowing where the ball was going was a huge confidence boost for me. The putter was not great this week, but just good enough to get by.
James Earle of Jupiter, Fla., and Wylie Inman of North Palm Beach, Fla., finished T2 at 6-under. 36-hole leader Colin Dutton of Foxfire, N.C., finished in solo fourth place at 4-under, and Ali Berk Berker of Potomac, Md., and Amani Dambrosio of Cheswick, Pa., finished T5 at 3-under to round out the top five.
Worch was born in Rockville, Md., and is a sophomore at UNC Wilmington. He played a semester of golf at Greensboro College before transferring.
"This is a huge confidence boost for me, knowing that my game is where it needs to be and I can have a huge impact on the team in the spring," Worch said.
According to Spikemark, he was the 10th-ranked freshman golfer in the nation. He played in five tournaments for Greensboro, posting a pair of top-ten finishes.
The Dixie Amateur, which originated in 1924, was played at the old Miami Country Club. Florida has always been a golf destination, and the tournament attracts a strong field of talented amateur players.
Early winners of the Dixie Amateur included Frank Stafaci, Earl Christianson, Frank Perpich, Al Besselink, Bill Hyndman III, and future Masters Champion Doug Ford. With the closing of the Miami Golf Club in 1953, the Dixie was discontinued until 1962.
The Dixie Amateur has been played continuously since 1962 at various courses in South Florida, including The Links at Key Biscayne and the Golf Club of Miami. During this time, the tournament really began to attract the very best players in the United States, and several players won before graduating to the PGA Tour. Champions include Andy Bean, Bruce Fleisher, Lanny Wadkins, Nolan Henke, Len Mattice, and Jesper Parnevik.
In 1990, the Dixie Amateur was moved to the Bonaventure Resort. During this time period, the tournament was moved to December and held during the Christmas break. This move allowed a greater number of collegiate golfers to participate, and the strength of our field grew substantially.
In 1997, a senior division was created for players 55 years and older. This increased exposure and attracted an even stronger field of senior golfers. Steve Earsley of Stuart, Florida, won the inaugural event and repeated as Champion in 1998.
In 2002, the women's division was added and has consistently attracted the finest female amateurs in the world. The inaugural women's champion, Meaghan Francella, narrowly defeated Paula Creamer, now an LPGA superstar. The 2007 women's champion, Lexi Thompson, became the youngest winner of an LPGA tournament in 2011 at the age of 16.
Results: Dixie Men's Amateur
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delray Beach, FL | 400 | 69-71-69-69=278 | |
| T2 | North Palm Beach, FL | 300 | 70-71-71-70=282 | |
| T2 | Jupiter, FL | 300 | 71-68-73-70=282 | |
| 4 | Foxfire Village, NC | 200 | 68-67-79-70=284 | |
| T5 | Cheswick, PA | 200 | 67-72-77-69=285 |
About the Dixie Men's Amateur
Historic Florida amateur golf tournament that is open to former Dixie Amateur champions, tournament committee invitees and qualifiers for major amateur championships. The Dixie has a traditionally strong field due to college break, and a past-champio...
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