Andrew Alligood tops field at Jacksonville Amateur

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Amateur concluded Saturday at San Jose Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla. 36-hole leader Michael Smith took a five-shot lead into the back nine until disaster struck. Smith made two consecutive bogeys and then a triple bogey on the par-3 12th. Smith’s tee shot came up short on the par-3 and rolled down a steep bank into the water. Smith took his penalty drop and proceeded to walk up to the green to take a closer look at the shot. While doing so, his ball rolled back into the water. Meanwhile, Andrew Alligood of Saint Johns, Fla. dropped his birdie putt on the 12th and took a 1-shot lead after the 4-shot swing. “As bad as I played on the front, I still shot even-par,” Alligood told jacksonville.com. “That gave me some confidence. Mike was putting very well, but obviously anything can happen, and he just ran into some bad luck.” Alligood then birdied the 13th hole and added another on the par-5 17th to finish with 69 and win the championship by three shots over A.J. Crouch. Smith finished with 77, 6-shots back of Alligood. “I had two hands on the wheel,” Smith told jacksonville.com. “I felt in control. But this is why we play the game ... the best and worst happens out there, but you can’t let it get you down.” Smith has yet to win the Jacksonville Am, finishing second or third four times in his career. Alligood will begin his freshman campaign at North Florida this coming fall.