With wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour and rain every day, Evan Myers of Northbrook, Ill., used his experience to get his ball in the hole and win the Dixie Amateur 2023 Men's Invitational at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, Fla. by three shots.
Myers shot 4-over for the tournament to win by three shots over Parker Severs of Bradenton, Fla., who finished in solo second place at 7-over, and Augusto Oliva of Kissimmee, Fla., finished in solo third place at 10-over. Kaleb Palm of Orlando, Fla., finished in solo fourth place at 11-over. Myers spent four years at Texas A&M and is now playing at Nebraska.
"The first day was extremely windy, and it rained every two holes," Myers said. "The second day was even windier, and the third round was all rain until the delay."
The final group in the third round only completed four holes before they were pulled off the course for the day. When the golfers came back out on Sunday to finish the third round, they were told that would be the final round.
"The biggest thing is experience," Myers said. "I spent four years playing at Texas A&M, where it is windy, and I am from Chicago, so I have had plenty of experience playing in the wind."
Myers added, "I made some errors that I know I will learn from, but it is all about knowing how your ball will behave in the wind."
Myer shot rounds of 70-75-75. After his first round 2-under 70, he was just one back of the lead and took control of the tournament in the second round.
"I made some key putts that kept me in it," Myers said. "The wind was blowing so hard that I knew it would be a grind, so I just had to put my head down and just try my best."
Myers added. "Coming in, I was hitting the ball really well. I hit the ball really well in the first round and made some big par putts to keep me going and get me through the round under par."
The wind was blowing consistently at 20 miles per hour and gusting up to 30 miles per hour throughout the tournament.
Myers also won the invitational in 2021 and was T4 last year, so this is an invitational and golf course he is familiar with.
"It's cool," Myers said about winning for the second time. "They put the banners of those guys each day as you drive in. Seeing those who are now on tour is cool; hopefully, I can be there one day."