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Cooper Claycomb hadn’t recorded a hole-in-one in nearly a decade, which made his ace even more significant during Saturday’s final round of the 85th Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions.
“I haven’t had a hole-in-one in a while. I have four now. I haven’t had one since I was 13,” said Claycomb, who is 21 years old. “This is my first one in a tournament.”
PHOTO GALLERY | Grant Roscich finishes 10-under-par to win Sunnehanna Amateur Tourney
A University of Louisville player from Orlando, Florida, Claycomb accomplished the feat on the par-three 10th hole at Sunnehanna Country Club.
“It was 155 yards, and I played it down to 150,” Claycomb said. “I hit a 9-iron and landed about a foot short. It went right behind it. We were like, ‘Oh, spin.’ Sure enough, it spun and went right in.”
Claycomb said the excitement of the moment briefly provided momentum, as he followed with a birdie putt on No. 11. But he made bogeys on 14, 15 and 17 to finish the day with a 2-over 72. He had two birdies (3, 11), the ace (10) and six bogeys (4, 6, 8, 14, 15, 17).
Overall, Claycomb shot 1-over-par 211 and tied for 36th.
University of Arkansas player Camden Smith made a hole-in-one during Wednesday’s opening round. He aced the 228-yard, par-three No. 14.
Fatherly presence: Gabriel Palacios from Guatemala City, Guatemala, tied for second place at 9-under 201 after blistering the Westmont course for a bogey-free round of 7-under 63 Saturday.
Palacios said the presence of his father, Miguel, lifted him through an impressive back nine.
“I’m proud of myself and how I kept in it,” said Palacios, who finished one stroke off the pace of tournament winner Grant Roscich. “Dad was on the back. It was great to have such a good round with him. Just a great experience.”
Palacios had a birdie on No. 8, but caught fire on the back nine. He made birdie putts on 10, 12, 15 and 17. The University of Utah player made eagle on the par-five 11th hole.
When reminded that Father’s Day is Sunday, Palacios said, “Father’s Day in Guatemala was a couple days ago. We’ll celebrate it two times.”
Defending champion: Last year’s record-breaking Sunnehanna Amateur champion, Tyler Watts, had another solid showing, even though he didn’t reproduce the amazing scores recorded in 2025.
The recent high school graduate and University of Tennessee commit finished tied for 18th at 2-under 208.
A year ago, Watts shattered Allen Doyle’s 33-year-old tournament record low score of 14-under.
Watts finished 2025 at 19-under 261. Then, a 17-year-old Watts became the youngest Sunnehanna Amateur champion.
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“I haven’t had a hole-in-one in a while. I have four now. I haven’t had one since I was 13,” said Claycomb, who is 21 years old. “This is my first one in a tournament.”
PHOTO GALLERY | Grant Roscich finishes 10-under-par to win Sunnehanna Amateur Tourney
A University of Louisville player from Orlando, Florida, Claycomb accomplished the feat on the par-three 10th hole at Sunnehanna Country Club.
“It was 155 yards, and I played it down to 150,” Claycomb said. “I hit a 9-iron and landed about a foot short. It went right behind it. We were like, ‘Oh, spin.’ Sure enough, it spun and went right in.”
Claycomb said the excitement of the moment briefly provided momentum, as he followed with a birdie putt on No. 11. But he made bogeys on 14, 15 and 17 to finish the day with a 2-over 72. He had two birdies (3, 11), the ace (10) and six bogeys (4, 6, 8, 14, 15, 17).
Overall, Claycomb shot 1-over-par 211 and tied for 36th.
University of Arkansas player Camden Smith made a hole-in-one during Wednesday’s opening round. He aced the 228-yard, par-three No. 14.
Fatherly presence: Gabriel Palacios from Guatemala City, Guatemala, tied for second place at 9-under 201 after blistering the Westmont course for a bogey-free round of 7-under 63 Saturday.
Palacios said the presence of his father, Miguel, lifted him through an impressive back nine.
“I’m proud of myself and how I kept in it,” said Palacios, who finished one stroke off the pace of tournament winner Grant Roscich. “Dad was on the back. It was great to have such a good round with him. Just a great experience.”
Palacios had a birdie on No. 8, but caught fire on the back nine. He made birdie putts on 10, 12, 15 and 17. The University of Utah player made eagle on the par-five 11th hole.
When reminded that Father’s Day is Sunday, Palacios said, “Father’s Day in Guatemala was a couple days ago. We’ll celebrate it two times.”
Defending champion: Last year’s record-breaking Sunnehanna Amateur champion, Tyler Watts, had another solid showing, even though he didn’t reproduce the amazing scores recorded in 2025.
The recent high school graduate and University of Tennessee commit finished tied for 18th at 2-under 208.
A year ago, Watts shattered Allen Doyle’s 33-year-old tournament record low score of 14-under.
Watts finished 2025 at 19-under 261. Then, a 17-year-old Watts became the youngest Sunnehanna Amateur champion.
Continue reading...
