Augenstein holds on for Players Am win, RBC Heritage start

BLUFFTON, S.C. (July 15, 2018) – John Augenstein turned his 54-hole lead into a victory on Sunday at the Players Amateur. The rising Vanderbilt senior also earns an exemption into the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage as a result of winning the prestigious amateur event at Berkeley Hall Club.

Augenstein slowly climbed the leaderboard throughout the week until reaching the top spot after 54 holes. He put the finishing touches on a four-shot win with a final-round 67. He had three birdies in the first eight holes and made his only bogey on No. 9. By that point, he still had a two-shot lead on chaser Andy Zhang.

Augenstein played the back nine in 2 under as Zhang made two birdies and two bogeys for an even-par 35. Augenstein was in the 60s for all four rounds, and finished the week at 16 under.

Behind Zhang, the University of Florida’s leading scorer last season, Will Grimmer also put together four rounds in the 60s to finish third. He was five shots behind Augenstein. Grimmer, the Ohio State player, has already appeared in two U.S. Opens (2014, 2018).

Three collegiate players tied for third at 10 under, including Auburn’s Branden Mancheno, Georgia’s Spencer Ralston and Virginia’s Thomas Walsh. The round of the day – and the round of the tournament – belonged to Walsh, who had a bogey-free 62 that also included an eagle on the par-5 seventh.

Last year’s winner Philip Knowles finished with a share of ninth at 8 under.