20th St. Augustine Amateur Recap: Vermut Birdies 18 for One-Shot Win in the Rain

A rain-soaked Sunday produced a dramatic finish at St. Johns Golf Club, where North Florida senior Adam Vermut closed with a birdie on the final hole to win the 20th St. Augustine Amateur by one stroke. Vermut’s even-par 71 gave him a three-round total of 6-under par, edging first-round leader Jake Moffitt (68) in a final round shaped by weather delays, preferred lies, and late-round momentum swings.

Final Round Recap: Chaos, Composure, and a Closing Birdie

Sunday began with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start and carts plus preferred lies allowed due to constant rain. Play was halted on the first green when standing water made multiple greens unplayable, creating a 90-minute delay. When the field resumed around 10 a.m., conditions stayed wet and breezy, turning the final round into a test of patience as much as ball-striking.

Vermut started the day three clear and managed his advantage through the early back nine, but the tournament flipped at the par-4 12th. After Moffitt birdied 11 and 12 to close, Vermut blocked a 2-iron out of bounds and made double bogey, suddenly falling one behind.

The decisive swing came at the par-4 15th. Moffitt drove into the lake right of the fairway and bogeyed, while Vermut played 2-iron off the tee and wedged to 7 feet for birdie — moving from one back to one ahead. Moffitt answered with a birdie at 16 to tie, then three-putted the long par-3 17th for bogey to fall behind again.

On 18, Moffitt got up and down for birdie to post 3-under 68 and tie the lead at 6-under. Vermut responded in style: a 330-yard drive, a 225-yard 6-iron to 25 feet, and two putts for a closing birdie — the final 5-footer falling to secure the one-shot victory.

Final Leaderboard Highlights

• 1. Adam Vermut (North Florida) — 6-under, champion
• 2. Jake Moffitt (Southern Miss) — 5-under, one back
• T3. Max VanderMolen — 5-under total, closed with low round 64 to finish two behind
• T4. Easton Oliva (UNF signee) — 3-under
• T4. Ward Harris (Chattanooga) — 3-under

VanderMolen’s closing 64 was the best score of the week and nearly stole the trophy, while Oliva and Harris rounded out a strong under-par group in brutal weather.

Tournament Notes

Vermut finished the week with 15 birdies and an eagle, and only one double bogey — the out-of-bounds miss at No. 12 on Sunday. It marked his first win since February 2023 (Coastal Alabama Invitational) and a breakthrough moment on his hometown college course.

Low Rounds by Day

• Round 1 — Jake Moffitt, 66
• Round 2 — Tyler Gutierrez, 65
• Round 3 — Max VanderMolen, 64

Field Statistics

• Birdies (Field): R1 267; R2 253; R3 233 — Total 753
• Eagles (Field): R1 14; R2 13; R3 8 — Total 35
• Scoring Average: R1 74.74; R2 74.79; R3 74.64 — Cumulative 74.73

Hole Difficulty

• Hardest Hole (Final Round): No. 7, par 5 — 5.44 avg
• Hardest Hole (Cumulative): No. 7, par 5 — 5.49 avg
• Easiest Hole (Cumulative): No. 11, par 5 — 4.56 avg

A Tournament That Gives Back

The St. Augustine Amateur’s 20th edition also marked a major milestone for its longtime beneficiary. With this year’s proceeds, First Tee – North Florida has now received approximately $500,000 in total support from the championship since 2004.

Looking Ahead

The 21st St. Augustine Amateur is scheduled for December 4–6, 2026, returning to St. Johns Golf Club for another 54-hole test.