Final Recap

It’s truly the summer of Luke Coyle. The Campbellsville, Kentucky native delivered under pressure all week at the Country Club of Columbus and finished it in style. His final-round 4-under 66 earned a share of the lead at 9-under 201, setting up a dramatic playoff with Florida’s Carson Baez. On the first extra hole, Coyle coolly made birdie while Baez settled for par, clinching the 96th Southeastern Amateur title. It was a fitting finish on the classic Donald Ross layout, which once again demanded precision iron play and deft touch around the greens to separate the champion from the field.

A Preview from the Tournament Experts at AmateurGolf.com

AmateurGolf.com returned to Columbus, Georgia to cover one of the premier amateur events of the summer. The 96th Southeastern Amateur welcomed a strong field of elite collegians and top-ranked amateurs from across the U.S. and internationally, all looking to test themselves on the historic Donald Ross-designed Country Club of Columbus.

Looking Back: Vandermoten’s Wire-to-Wire Win

In 2024, Frenchman Alexandre Vandermoten stole the show with a bogey-free opening 63, followed by back-to-back rounds of 70 to secure a one-shot win at 7-under 203. He edged out Brantley Scott and Luke Dasher by a single stroke, avoiding a playoff thanks to steady putting down the stretch. Christopher Zhang surged with a final-round 64 to finish solo fourth, while 2023 champion Hunter Logan and Lee Poppell rounded out the top five.

A Legacy of Champions

Since its founding in 1922 by Fred Haskins, the Southeastern Amateur has crowned a remarkable list of champions. Among them are Doug Sanders, Tommy Aaron, Curtis Strange, Ben Crenshaw, and Fuzzy Zoeller—all future Masters winners. Columbus native Allen Doyle famously captured the event five times before launching his decorated senior professional career.

The Ross Restoration

The Country Club of Columbus underwent a faithful restoration in 2003 using Donald Ross’s original plans. It now showcases classic features like shaved run-off areas and the notorious postage stamp green at No. 4. At just over 6,500 yards, it’s a layout that rewards precision and creativity over sheer power—a perfect stage for identifying a true amateur champion.

Records to Watch

• Lowest 54-hole score: 189 – Ben Carr (2021)
• Single-round record: 61 – Ben Carr (2019)
• Last international champion: Alexandre Vandermoten (2024)

Looking Ahead

The 96th Southeastern Amateur once again proved why it remains one of the country’s top amateur championships. The final-day playoff capped a week of low scores and high drama on a historic course that demands the full arsenal of a player’s game. Expect to see Luke Coyle’s name rise in amateur rankings this summer—and to see more future stars emerge next year in Columbus.

More coverage: Follow AmateurGolf.com and @amateurgolfdotcom for rankings, stories, and tournament coverage all season long.