Rock-steady Jansen Preston wins the Magnolia Amateur

Sometimes all you need are pars. Vanderbilt’s Jansen Preston did just that through 18 holes at the 9th annual Magnolia Amateur. As the overnight leader by a stroke, Preston kept his scorecard clean with 14 pars and balanced his two back-nine bogeys with birdies on Nos. 13 and 17. Needing just one more birdie somewhere in his round, Preston walked off the 18th green at 8-under only to find himself in a three-way sudden-death playoff. UC Davis’ Lucas Carper jumped six spots on Sunday with a final round 66, including three birdies on the back nine to sneak his way into the playoff with Preston alongside day one leader and Mississippi State Bulldog, Benjamin Nelson who posted a final round 69. Heading back to the 18th tee, all three players found the fairway and stuck their approaches inside 20-feet on the par-4. The only one to capitalize on his approach, Preston drained an 8-footer for just his third birdie on the day and the win. This year marks the first time a playoff has been necessary to crown a champion in the nine-year history at the Magnolia Amateur.

Rising sophomore Lucas Carper with a monster low final round of 66 on Sunday to finish -5 on the day and -8 for the tourney at the Magnolia Amateur in Mississippi. Forced a three-way playoff for the title finishing tied for 2nd overall! Congrats Lucas! #GoAgs pic.twitter.com/KUqdzzRpEc

— UC Davis Mens Golf (@ucdavismgolf) July 12, 2020

Taking home individual honors, Preston also grabbed the ‘team’ title. The Magnolia crowns the lowest two collegiate teammates as a team champion, separate from the individual and mid-am championships. Splitting the honor was Vanderbilt’s Preston and Reid Davenport and Mississippi State’s Cameron Clarke and Nelson who’s combined scores equaled 14-under (199).