Watson's wild ride to the Ohio Amateur title

Max Watson, at redshirt freshman at Eastern Michigan University captured the 115th Ohio Amateur Championship Avalon Golf and Country Club in Warren, Ohio, defeating Dhaivat Pandya in a playoff to claim victory.

Watson and Pandya finished the 72-hole tournament at 3-under-par 285 (68-73-72-72) and entered a playoff some thought wasn't possible.

Pandya, a rising senior at the University of Maryland, shot a final-round 68 to climb into contention after rounds of 70, 72, and 75. He made five birdies on the back nine Friday on his way to a 4-under 32.

Watson relinquished his solo lead after making a bogey on 15 and momentarily slipped back into a tie with Pandya and 17-time USGA participant Bill Williamson. However, birdies on 16 and 17 gave Watson a two-stroke lead heading to 18, but a double bogey on the 18th dropped him back into a tie with Pandya, constituting a playoff, which Watson won on the first extra hole.

A great week with 144 of Ohio’s best amateur golfers! Thank you everyone for a great week 🏌🏻‍♂️

📸: Ron Alvey pic.twitter.com/N81pnsyJUd

— Ohio Golf Association (@ohiogolf) July 31, 2021

Previous winners of the Ohio Amateur include notable stars such as Ben Curtis (1999 & 2000), Arnold Palmer (1954 & 1955).