2008 Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship

Noll Tops Gregory, 2 up, in Atlanta Amateur Match Play Final

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – David Noll Jr. of Dalton took an early lead, then held off a late charge from Josh Gregory of Augusta to win his second Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship by a 2-up margin at Rivermont Golf and Country Club. Gregory conceded the match to Noll on 18 after his long par putt slid past the hole and Noll had just two feet for his par.

Noll came out strong, building a 3-up lead through four holes. He got it back to 3 holes two more times – after No. 7 and No. 12 – both with birdies. He owned a 3-up lead with five holes to play, but Gregory made two key birdie putts over the next four holes, and despite an unlucky break on 16, kept the match close heading into 18.

Gregory's final charge began on the 151-yard, par-3 14th, where he connected on a six-foot birdie putt and Noll missed an eight-footer. Gregory then won the 15th hole with par after he was on the green in two and Noll's approach landed in thick rough on the edge of a greenside bunker.

After winning two straight holes and reducing Noll's lead to just 1-up (the closest it had been the entire match), Gregory certainly had some momentum heading into the 422-yard 16th. But after Noll stuck his approach to two feet, Gregory's second shot hit the wicker basket atop the flagstick and ricocheted clear across the green to the fringe on the far side, essentially securing the hole for Noll.

With Noll dormie two, Gregory continued to keep things interesting. On the 200-yard 17th, he was away, 25 feet from the hole, and sank the birdie putt. Noll's 20-footer was slightly off the mark, and he went to 18 with just a 1-up advantage.

Gregory's tee shot on 18 hit a tree, then his second shot came to rest just right of the green. His chip rolled across to the green's left edge. Noll was on the front of the green in two and putted to two feet. Gregory's long par attempt was close, but trailed past the hole to give Noll the victory.

Noll, who also won this event in 2005, joins a long list of champions with multiple titles in this event, but is the first since Rocky Costa of Alpharetta captured the second of his two titles in 2000.

Entries were open to male amateur golfers who are members of a GSGA Member Club. A total of 32 players competed in the match play bracket after 18 holes of stroke play qualifying.