If tournaments are won and lost on the back nine, then J.J. Gresco’s day at the Nevada State Amateur is an excellent example of that. Gresco, a native of Phoenix, Ariz., who is about to enter his third season on the UNLV roster, had a colorful scorecard going by the time he reached the back nine. When he went on a four-hole birdie run from Nos. 13-16, he clinched the state amateur title.
Gresco opened with rounds of 75-72 at Somersett CC in Reno, Nev. He had three bogeys and a birdie on the front nine at Somersett, but also aced the par-3 third.
The up-and-down day continued with a double bogey at No. 11. Then Gresco rattled off his birdie streak. A final-round 2-under 70 left Gresco at 1 over for the week and two shots ahead of Mitchell Abbott for the title.
Grant McKay finished third at 6 over and Edward Fryatt, who won this title in 1992, finished fourth at 7 over.
