Late comeback gives Brantley Baker the Palmetto Amateur title

By Kyle Dawson of the Aiken Standard

Brantley Baker wasn’t going to let his stoic demeanor fade Saturday during the final round of the Palmetto Amateur.

Playing in the final group on the final day didn’t change how he approached Palmetto Golf Club, and he wasn’t going to show any nerves he may have been feeling.

His expression didn’t change when he made a bad bogey on the par-5 14th hole, leaving him two shots off the lead with just four holes to play. Nor did it change when he rolled in back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to surge back ahead.

It wasn’t until after he tapped in on the 18th that he could finally crack a smile and let a little emotion show - even a little dance move as he stood by his golf bag with his parents next to Palmetto’s clubhouse.

Baker, a rising sophomore at Georgia Southern, never lost his composure over 72 holes and was rock solid down the stretch to claim the title at the 47th annual Palmetto Amateur by a shot over Runchanapong Youprayong at 10-under 270.

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