8:32 pm | August 19, 2018 | Go to Source | Author:
August 19, 2018
Oklahoma State’s Viktor Hovland became the third Big 12 golfer to win the U.S. Amateur Championship with a 6-and-5 victory over UCLA’s Devon Bling at Peeble Beach Golf Links on Sunday.
Hovland is the third Big 12 student-athlete to win the championship, joining Peter Uihlein (Oklahoma State, 2010) and David Gossett (Texas, 1999). With his victory, Hovland joined Peter Uihlein (2010), Labron Harris, Jr. (1962), Bob Dickson (1967) and Scott Verplank (1984) as Cowboys to have hoisted the Havemeyer Trophy.
Additionally, the Oslo native became the first Norwegian to win the event.
Hovland was dominant all week, trailing for just one hole during his six matches and needing just 104 holes over the course of the week to secure the victory. His total matched Danny Lee (2008) for the fewest by a champion since 1979. He did not trail over his final 86 holes and won 44 of the 104 holes he played during the match play portion of the championship.
During Sunday’s morning session, Hovland took the opening hole with a par before Bling squared the match at the fourth. Hovland’s first birdie of the day came at the fourth when he hit a remarkable cliffside recovery to just three feet to move back in front.
The rising junior surged ahead with wins at Nos. 8-11 to take a 5-up lead. Bling answered with wins at the next two holes before Hovland regained momentum with victories at the 14th and 16th.
After Bling took the 17th, Hovland once again seized momentum heading into the break with a clutch par save at the 18th.
During the afternoon round, Hovland took the opening hole to move back to a 5-up advantage. The two players halved the next seven holes before Bling rolled in a long birdie putt at the 27th hole.
Hovland would take the 29th and 30th holes before halving the 31st hole to close out the match.
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