Freshman Chase Pickering of Drake University saved his best for the final round, firing a 5-under 67 to win the Palo Verde Amateur by four shots at Grand Canyon University Golf Course in Phoenix, Ariz.
Pickering finished at 7-under 206 after rounds of 70-69-67, pulling away from a tightly packed leaderboard on the final day. Entering the round tied for second at 3-under 139, he trailed 36-hole leader David Martinez of UTSA by a single shot.
The turning point came on the par-5 10th, where Pickering made eagle. The surge allowed him to separate himself from the field and cruise home for the victory.
Martinez, a UTSA sophomore from Houston, TX, was unable to maintain his lead despite a solid week. After rounds of 71 and 67 put him atop the leaderboard heading into the final round, he closed with a 72 to finish tied for second at 3-under 210.
Joining him there was Aidan Peters of Ventura, Calif., who posted rounds of 69-71-70 to share runner-up honors.
University of Arizona junior Dillon Dean made a late charge with a final-round 67, matching Pickering for the low round of the day, to finish fourth at even-par 213.
The championship featured 49 top amateurs and collegiate players, but scoring proved difficult throughout the week. Only four players finished the 54-hole event at par or better, making Pickering’s closing performance all the more impressive.