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The 85th Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions appeared to be headed to a three-way playoff Saturday afternoon.
University of North Carolina golfer Grant Roscich had other ideas.
PHOTO GALLERY | Grant Roscich finishes 10-under-par to win Sunnehanna Amateur Tourney
Roscich, who throughout the week spoke about bringing patience and consistency to the par-70 Sunnehanna Country Club course, heeded his own advice.
Roscich made a 25-foot birdie putt from the edge of the 18th green, playing in the final group during the final round. The Glen Ellyn, Illinois, native secured a one-stroke win at 10-under-par 200.
“The entire day, the putts weren’t dropping,” Roscich said, “but like I’ve said the last few days – patience and consistency. I was being patient with it, letting it happen rather than trying to do anything with it. I made a good putt and it went in.”
Gabriel Palacios, from Guatemala City, Guatemala, and Jake Birdwell, of Blaine, Minnesota, finished in a tie for second place at 9-under 201. Palacios had a 7-under 63 Saturday, and Birdwell shot 1-under 69 in the final round.
For the first time in 10 years – and the fourth occasion in Sunnehanna Amateur history – the tournament was shortened from 72 to 54 holes after Thursday’s scheduled second round was suspended and eventually canceled due to gusting winds.
The winds persisted throughout the week, including Saturday, but nothing as impactful as Thursday.
“I felt like it was playing harder than on any other day. It was pretty windy throughout the day,” said Roscich, who began the final round with a one-stroke lead at 9-under. “It was a different wind. Most of the days, it’s been the same wind. Today was a little bit different and it was kind of hard adjusting to that.”
Roscich shot a 1-under 69 after opening the tournament with a 5-under 65 Wednesday and recording a 4-under 66 Friday.
He made the turn at even-par 35 in the final round, then paired a bogey on the par-three 10th hole with a birdie on the par-five 11th before reeling off six straight pars through 17.
His approach on 18 landed within a few feet of the flag, but bounced and rolled to the edge of the green. Making par seemed like a reasonable objective, but Roscich's putt headed toward the hole and slowly dropped in, setting off a loud cheer among the fans encircling the green.
“It’s a bad thought, but I was just thinking about the cars on the right and I’m like, ‘Just don’t do it over there,’ ” Roscich said, referring to the vehicles in the parking lot behind the trees adjacent to the 18th green.
“ ‘The pin’s back right. Anywhere on the left, even the rough is good,’ ” he said, explaining the reasoning ahead of his second shot. “I hit a good wedge shot, just didn’t spin. I had 25 feet there.”
Birdwell played in the final group with Roscich and Peter Kim, who tied for fourth at 6-under 204 with Matt Vogt and Jake Albert.
The University of Illinois golfer began the final round at 8-under in sole possession of second place. Birdwell held the lead at 10-under after a birdie on No. 11.
After three pars, he hit a rough spot, making bogeys on 15 and 16. Instead of a collapse, Birdwell recovered with a birdie on 17 to set a three-way tie at 9-under.
“I missed that putt on 16 and told myself, ‘Now, I’ve got to make a birdie,’ ” Birdwell said. “There is no just coasting in with pars. You’ve got to make something.”
Birdwell worked out of another tough spot on 18. His second shot soared over the green and into a bunker below the scoreboard located next to the bleachers.
He chipped onto the green and saved par.
“I’m surprised my drive got through to be honest,” Birdwell said of his approach on 18. “I didn’t think I hit it that far. The bunker was 350 and it was playing uphill 20 yards. It’s surprising.”
Roscich’s long putt had already sealed the win before Birdwell’s final putt for par.
“Congrats to Grant,” Birdwell said. “That was a good putt. I thought I was going to be able to get in a playoff, but he was scaring the hole all day.”
Palacios had the best final round among the leaders. The University of Utah player entered Saturday’s competition at a respectable 2-under, but wasn’t near the top of the leaderboard.
Then, Palacios got hot.
His bogey-free round included birdies on 8, 10, 12, 15 and 17. Palacios made an eagle on the par-five No. 11.
“I hit a good shot on 10 and put to 3 or 4 feet,” Palacios said. “I birdied that one and gave myself a look on 11, which I made. I put it close again on 12. I was able to convert those 5-to-6 footers, which were key to shooting this round.”
Palacios nearly birdied the final hole, but his putt stopped an inch short of the cup.
“That was close,” Palacios said. “That would’ve been nice.”
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University of North Carolina golfer Grant Roscich had other ideas.
PHOTO GALLERY | Grant Roscich finishes 10-under-par to win Sunnehanna Amateur Tourney
Roscich, who throughout the week spoke about bringing patience and consistency to the par-70 Sunnehanna Country Club course, heeded his own advice.
Roscich made a 25-foot birdie putt from the edge of the 18th green, playing in the final group during the final round. The Glen Ellyn, Illinois, native secured a one-stroke win at 10-under-par 200.
“The entire day, the putts weren’t dropping,” Roscich said, “but like I’ve said the last few days – patience and consistency. I was being patient with it, letting it happen rather than trying to do anything with it. I made a good putt and it went in.”
Gabriel Palacios, from Guatemala City, Guatemala, and Jake Birdwell, of Blaine, Minnesota, finished in a tie for second place at 9-under 201. Palacios had a 7-under 63 Saturday, and Birdwell shot 1-under 69 in the final round.
For the first time in 10 years – and the fourth occasion in Sunnehanna Amateur history – the tournament was shortened from 72 to 54 holes after Thursday’s scheduled second round was suspended and eventually canceled due to gusting winds.
The winds persisted throughout the week, including Saturday, but nothing as impactful as Thursday.
“I felt like it was playing harder than on any other day. It was pretty windy throughout the day,” said Roscich, who began the final round with a one-stroke lead at 9-under. “It was a different wind. Most of the days, it’s been the same wind. Today was a little bit different and it was kind of hard adjusting to that.”
Roscich shot a 1-under 69 after opening the tournament with a 5-under 65 Wednesday and recording a 4-under 66 Friday.
He made the turn at even-par 35 in the final round, then paired a bogey on the par-three 10th hole with a birdie on the par-five 11th before reeling off six straight pars through 17.
His approach on 18 landed within a few feet of the flag, but bounced and rolled to the edge of the green. Making par seemed like a reasonable objective, but Roscich's putt headed toward the hole and slowly dropped in, setting off a loud cheer among the fans encircling the green.
“It’s a bad thought, but I was just thinking about the cars on the right and I’m like, ‘Just don’t do it over there,’ ” Roscich said, referring to the vehicles in the parking lot behind the trees adjacent to the 18th green.
“ ‘The pin’s back right. Anywhere on the left, even the rough is good,’ ” he said, explaining the reasoning ahead of his second shot. “I hit a good wedge shot, just didn’t spin. I had 25 feet there.”
Birdwell played in the final group with Roscich and Peter Kim, who tied for fourth at 6-under 204 with Matt Vogt and Jake Albert.
The University of Illinois golfer began the final round at 8-under in sole possession of second place. Birdwell held the lead at 10-under after a birdie on No. 11.
After three pars, he hit a rough spot, making bogeys on 15 and 16. Instead of a collapse, Birdwell recovered with a birdie on 17 to set a three-way tie at 9-under.
“I missed that putt on 16 and told myself, ‘Now, I’ve got to make a birdie,’ ” Birdwell said. “There is no just coasting in with pars. You’ve got to make something.”
Birdwell worked out of another tough spot on 18. His second shot soared over the green and into a bunker below the scoreboard located next to the bleachers.
He chipped onto the green and saved par.
“I’m surprised my drive got through to be honest,” Birdwell said of his approach on 18. “I didn’t think I hit it that far. The bunker was 350 and it was playing uphill 20 yards. It’s surprising.”
Roscich’s long putt had already sealed the win before Birdwell’s final putt for par.
“Congrats to Grant,” Birdwell said. “That was a good putt. I thought I was going to be able to get in a playoff, but he was scaring the hole all day.”
Palacios had the best final round among the leaders. The University of Utah player entered Saturday’s competition at a respectable 2-under, but wasn’t near the top of the leaderboard.
Then, Palacios got hot.
His bogey-free round included birdies on 8, 10, 12, 15 and 17. Palacios made an eagle on the par-five No. 11.
“I hit a good shot on 10 and put to 3 or 4 feet,” Palacios said. “I birdied that one and gave myself a look on 11, which I made. I put it close again on 12. I was able to convert those 5-to-6 footers, which were key to shooting this round.”
Palacios nearly birdied the final hole, but his putt stopped an inch short of the cup.
“That was close,” Palacios said. “That would’ve been nice.”
Continue reading...
