English and college rival John Peterson of LSU were locked in a weekend battle that saw them flip-flop the lead on several occasions. The final switch came at the 72nd hole where Peterson stumbled to a bogey after his tee shot settled into a horrible lie in the rough and English rolled in his putt to join former Bulldog roommate and Russell Henley as amateur winners this year.
Thats really what you dream about growing up. You want to put yourself in those positions to win. This is what you spend hours and hours practicing for as a little kid, said Engilsh. When I saw the ball disappear it was the greatest feeling in the world. Its pretty unbelievable.
Petersons tee shot nestled into a sloppy divot in the rough and his second shot came up 30 yards short of the green. His pitch shot left him with 15 feet for par. When he missed the putt, he set the stage for English.
My goal was to win this week and I didnt get it done. I guess it just wasnt meant for me, said Peterson, gracious in defeat. If I wasnt going to win, I wanted him to win it.
English started the day one shot back of Peterson, who held the outright lead after each of the first three days and set or matched records in the process. His 1-under-par 70 at the Ohio State University Scarlet Course put him at 14-under 270, one better than Peterson (72) and Columbus native Kyle Reifers (68), who rolled in a critical 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole.
I thought 14 was the number today, said Reifers, who winds up collecting first-place money as the highest-finishing professional. The money is a big part because of what it might mean as far as next year.
Sundays final round, like most of the previous three, had the spotlight on the amateurs. English was coming off his first major amateur win the Southern Amateur last week in Florida and Peterson captured the NCAA Individual Championship last month.
When Peterson birdied the opening hole and English made bogey, the margin was three in favor of the purple and gold of LSU. His great success must be partly attributed to his rescue hybrid (
Taylormade R11 Rescue Hybrid ). And it is heatedly reported that driver is hotly popular at
golf clubs for sale.
The pro ranks and the check-cashing will have to wait as both English and Peterson have a few more amateur events to play this summer. Both will head to upstate New York next week for the Porter Cup and then hopefully turn pro after the Walker Cup in mid-September.
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