adminZIMBABWEAN Scott Vincent won the 15th annual Players Amateur on Sunday, beating two rivals by one stroke in a victory that also earned him an exemption into a PGA TOUR golf tournament.
Vincent is the fifth golfer from Zimbabwe to attend Virginia Tech and the only Hokie to be named to the Ping All-American Team.
The soon-to-be senior began Sunday’s round six strokes behind two-day leader Ontario’s Garrett Rank, who started the day at 13-under par.
“You’re starting the day so many shots back, you never really know what’s going to happen but it’s definitely not in your favour,” Vincent said.
“I knew that, and I knew it was going to take something special or the opposite, where he was going to fall back a bit, which he ended up doing.”
Vincent’s break came at the sixth hole when Rank carded a 4-over-par 8. Vincent birdied the hole and took the lead at 9-under.
Garrett birdied the 12th hole and regained his share of the lead but Vincent birdied two more times on the back nine and finished with a 68, one stroke ahead of the Canadian.
Hunter Stewart shot even par on the front nine with 3 bogies, a birdie and an eagle, but came to life on the back nine with another eagle and two birdies.
He challenged Vincent for the win but came up one stroke short and just missed becoming the tournament’s first back to back champion.
Vincent’s win earns him an exemption into the 2015 RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing PGA TOUR golf tournament on Hilton Head Island.
He told reporters that he is looking forward to the opportunity. — www.sportreflect.com
Online Reporter