Shuart goes extra holes to win second career Florida Mid-Am

T.J. Shuart has done this once before – it just happened a little easier. The 35-year-old Ft. Lauderdale resident won his second career Florida Mid-Amateur title on Sunday, but his first since 2015. When he won for the first time, it was with a hole to spare. This time, Shuart had to grind out far past 18 holes.

To reach the final match, Shuart took down Aaron Badz, 7 and 6, while opponent Joseph Latowski defeated Matthew Lemma, 3 and 2.

Latowski opened the championship match with a birdie on the first hole and took the early lead. He had grown his advantage to 3 up by No. 11 tee but the lead didn’t last long on the back nine.

Shuart came back to win Nos. 13, 14, 17 and 18 to square the match. Shuart’s birdie on the 18th hole extended the match to extra holes to determine the champion.

On the first extra hole, both players missed a birdie putt to continue to the second hole. On the 20th hole, Shuart missed the green short right then chipped on to 30 feet. Latowski hit his approach shot on the fringe and left himself with an 8-foot putt for par. Both players made bogey, which extended the match to a 21st hole. Shuart and Latowski lai -up and hit their approach shots 10 yards short of a green with a false front. Latowski left himself with 5 feet for par while Shuart closed in on the hole with a 6-inch par putt.

Latowski missed his putt and Shuart sunk his for a par that gave him another victory in this event.

Information from the Florida State Golf Association used in this report