Max Bengtsson didn’t win the First Coast Amateur by hanging on — he went and took it.
The Coastal Carolina senior closed with a 3-under 69 on Monday at Deerwood Country Club to win the 2026 Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) First Coast Amateur at 5-under par, finishing five shots ahead of USF freshman Roman Solomon.
Bengtsson’s week was a little bit of everything. He opened with a 68 to share the lead on Saturday, slipped a shot back after Sunday’s 74, then came out swinging when it mattered most. Starting the final round T-2 at 2-under and one behind 36-hole leader Rasmus Gross, Bengtsson birdied three of his first seven holes and was back in front by the turn.
He kept pushing after that, getting to 4-under on the day through 11 holes. A bogey at No. 12 knocked him back to 3-under, but it didn’t change the feel of the round — he never let the door open. Six straight pars coming home were enough to seal the win and put the tournament out of reach.
Gross, a Toledo freshman from Sweden, had set the pace through 36 holes (70-71) but couldn’t stay there on Monday. His final-round 76 dropped him to third at 1-over.
For Bengtsson, the win fits the bigger picture. A Tarleton State transfer, he’s been trending up since arriving at Coastal Carolina — Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year, Second Team All-Sun Belt, and a 72.33 scoring average last season (10th-best in program history). He also showed it in college events, with three top-10s in ranked fields, including a T-3 at the General James Hackler Championship and a T-4 at the West Bay Collegiate Invitational in October.
“Max came back from winter break with a higher level of focus,” Chanticleers head coach Jacob Wilner said. “He has one semester left in his college career before he heads to the professional ranks. This win shows what he’s capable of.”
One more semester left. Pro golf coming. And now, a local amateur title that looked exactly like a player ready to move on to the next level.
