Mike McCoy wins Coleman Invitational for third time

JUNO BEACH, Fla. — For the third time in five years, Mike McCoy is the George L. Coleman Amateur Invitational champion, winning by seven shots at Seminole Golf Club on Saturday. McCoy had previously won the 2011 and 2013 events.

After posting consecutive rounds in the 60s to take a three-shot lead over Arnold Cutrell heading into the final round, McCoy pulled away from the pack with a 70 on day three. McCoy and second-place finishing Cutrell were the only players under par at the end of the 54-hole tournament, hosted at the always- difficult Seminole — a Donald Ross design.

McCoy, the native of West Des Moines, Iowa who made national headlines with his 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur victory, was one of just three players to break 70 at Seminole. 2014 Crump Cup winner Michael Muehr shot 69 on Friday, as well, concluding with 74 in the final round to take solo third place. Brett Williams' 68 was the lowest round of day two, and marked a 16-stroke recovery from his 84 in round one. But Williams fell by with a 77 on Saturday and placed 19th.

McCoy had a spectacular 2014, as well, winning three high-level Mid-Amateur invitationals, including the Lupton, Crane Cup, and George C. Thomas.

Cutrell, of Greensburg, Pa., opened with back- to-back rounds of 70 and carded a 74 on Saturday to finish in the runner-up position back three shots over Muehr.

Defending champion Patrick Christovich finished in a tie for 10th, posting rounds of 76, 72, and 75 in his title defense.

Rounding out the top-five were Jeff Knox of Augusta, Ga. and R.J. Nakashian of Palm Beach Gardens.

In the Senior Division, 2014 U.S. Senior Amateur runner-up Bryan Norton of Mission Hills, Kan. played steady golf over three rounds to win by four shots. Entering the final round, Norton was tied for second place with 2013 U.S. Senior Amateur winner Doug Hanzel, two shots back of Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. But Simson struggled with the final-round lead, shooting 81 on Saturday to surrender the lead to Norton and drop into a tie for eighth.

Norton posted rounds of 72, 73, and 72 to defend his title and win the Coleman Senior for the second consecutive year. In 2014, Norton edged Buzz Fly of Memphis for a one-shot win.

Click here for full results, including AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings points, from the Coleman Senior Invitational. And for full Mid-Amateur results, see the link below.