Anderson was the runner-up at the Maine Amateur Championship at Belgrade Lakes GC in July. With the Amateur champion Jack Wyman away competing at the U.S. Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach this week, Anderson was awarded the #1 seed in the Match Play bracket. He proved that the seeding was no fluke, winning all five matches this week in his tournament debut.
“It’s always good to win, especially in your home state,” he said after the match. “I played steady all week long.”
The 17-year old from Camden is fresh off a win last week at Sugarloaf GC in the AJGA Coca-Cola Championship and kept up his fine form at Falmouth this week. Despite his talent and the titles he’s started to amass, it’s easy to forget he’s still just a junior. He starts preseason this week at Camden Hills Regional High School.
After both players halved the first hole with pars, Powell took the early lead on the 2nd hole when he made par on the 249-yard par 3. The third was halved with pars, and it appeared as if Powell would extend his lead on the 4th after Anderson lost his tee shot left. Anderson made a birdie on his second ball for a good bogey, which was good enough to halve. Anderson then two-putted for birdie on the 6th to level the match after an untimely three putt for Powell.
On the 7th, Powell hit his tee shot in the woods and made bogey to Anderson’s par to fall 1 down. Powell again hit a wayward shot out of bounds on the par-5 8th, which led to his third straight lost hole. After pars on 9, Anderson headed to the back nine 2 up.
“I’m a little disappointed with how I hit it off the tee,” Powell said. “I stymied myself in a couple of strange places. Seven through ten was a killer.”