Chris Waters turned to the final back nine at Glen Arven Country Club in Thomasville, Ga., at 3-under and was coming off a double bogey on No. 8 and was three shots off the lead held by Blair Scurlock.
Then, he put his foot on the gas pedal.
Waters recorded birdies on holes No. 11, 12, 15, 16, and 17 to get to an 8-under total and force a playoff against Scurlock. Waters then went on to win on the third playoff hole.
Scurlock finished in solo second place at 8-under with rounds of 73-67-68.
2022 and 2023 champion Nate Gahman finished in solo third place at 4-under. Gahman had a chance to contend for a third-straight title, but a final round 1-over 73 saw him finish four shots back.
Matthew Hayes and Rusty Mosley finished T4 at 3-under, and Andy Blanton finished in solo sixth place at 1-under. Hayes and Blanton shared the first-round leads after rounds of 5-under 67.
Waters has won three Georgia Public Links titles and made the round of 64 at the 2014 and 2017 U.S. Amateur.