Alabama State Amateur: Eyster over Pettit in a Playoff

BESSEMER, AL (June 11, 2017) - UAB senior Taylor Eyster of Birmingham survived a three-hole aggregate playoff over defending champion and rising Clemson University freshman Turk Pettit of Auburn to win the Alabama State Amateur Championship. Eyster finished the playoff at one-under par by holing a six-foot birdie on the second playoff hole while Pettit finished the three-hole loop at even par. Prior to the playoff both Eyster and Pettit provided plenty of drama on the 18th hole during regulation play. Playing in the second-to-last group, Pettit holed a 30-foot birdie putt to tie Eyster who was clinging to a one shot lead playing in the final group as he headed to the final hole. Eyster hit his fairway approach shot into the back greenside bunker leaving a testy long bunker shot off a downhill lie. Eyster’s bunker shot came to rest eight feet below the hole. He then sank the par putt to force a playoff. Championship Notes: -The victory is Eyster’s first Alabama State Amateur title. -Eyster carded a final round 68 and was co-leader with Wes Carter of Helena heading into the final round. -Pettit posted back-to-back rounds of 66 on the weekend to vault-up the leaderboard from T22 after 36 holes. -36-hole leader Ryan Mayberry of Birmingham fired a final round 66 to finish in solo third place. -30 players finished the championship under par with a final round average score of 73.0 and 74.08 for the entire week.