Vogelsong defeats Mattiace in Terra Cotta Invitational playoff

Alexander Vogelsong is headed to Auburn next year, but first a confidence boost. The 18-year-old came out ahead of North Florida junior Michael Mattiace on Sunday in a playoff for the Terra Cotta Invitational title.

Vogelsong used a final-round 5-under 67 at Naples (Fla.) National Golf Club to get to 5 under for the tournament. He caught second-round leader Michael Mattiace with that round, which included three consecutive birdies from Nos. 13-15. After Mattiace bogeyed the par-4 16th, he had to birdie the 18th for a final-round 71 that got him into the playoff with Vogelsong.

For Vogelson, a Palm City, Fla., native, it has been a solid but winless year. He was 27th at the Jones Cup earlier this winter, and third at the Junior Orange Bowl to start the year.

"I'm so excited to be a champion here," Vogelsong told the Naples Daily News. "It's been awhile since I won a tournament, and to win my first amateur event here at Naples National is a great feeling.

Behind the leaders, Englishman Jake Bolton finished third at 4 under. He had opened with a 4-under 68 that gave him the first-round co-lead with Carl Santos-Ocampo, a Naples native who ended up finishing four shots behind him in fourth.

A group of six players finished 3 over for a share of fifth. That included Orlando International winner Greyson Porter, a Florida State junior, as well as Cole Anderson, a Florida State first-semester freshman who won the Florida Azalea Invitational earlier this spring.