2016 Georgia Amateur Championship

 

 

 

Colin Bowles Wins Centennial Georgia Amateur Championship

 

Click here for Champion Highlights

 

ATLANTA, Ga. - The final match between Colin Bowles of Albany and Spencer Ralston of Gainesville came down to the 18th hole with Bowles walking away the Centennial Georgia Amateur champion. The match play portion of the state championship took place at the Brookhaven Course of Capital City Club, July 15-17.

The match started with Ralston gaining momentum over the first nine holes, taking a 2 up lead at the turn. Ralston, a soon-to-be Georgia Bulldog, took hole 10 and took a 3 up advantage with eight holes to play. Not backing down, Bowles caught fire on the final nine holes by claiming four of the next five. With two holes to play, both players walked to the 17th tee all square. Ralston found a bit of trouble and Bowles made what he had to for a 1 up lead with one to play. With the final match coming down to the 18th hole, the players halved the hole with bogeys, giving Bowles his first state championship.

 

The final three holes on the Brookhaven Course proved rather significant in more ways than one during this final match. The stretch of 16, 17 and 18 were recently named "Cupp's Corner", honoring the longtime golf course architect and Georgia Golf Hall of Famer, Bob Cupp.

The 16-year-old champion paved his way through the bracket by winning five matches in three days. On Friday in the round of 32, Bowles defeated Trey Pearson of Dacula, 3 and 2. That afternoon in the round of 16, he beat Cameron Hooper of Atlanta, 4 and 3. The quarterfinals and semifinals were held on Saturday, where Bowles earned wins over Tim Arnoult, Jr., of Roswell (3 and 2) and Kris Mikkelsen of Atlanta (2 up), respectively.

Ralston, who earned runner-up honors - his best finish at a Georgia Amateur Championship - began his run to the finals with wins over Michael Hines of Woodstock (4 and 2) in the round of 32 and Nickolaus Budd of Woodstock (1 up) in the round of 16. Ralston defeated Christopher Harris of Atlanta, 3 and 2, in the quarterfinals. He then beat Luke Schniederjans of Powder Springs, 3 and 1, in the semifinals.

The Bowles victory makes him the youngest ever to win the Georgia Amateur Championship since the very first winner 100 years ago, and that was a 14-year-old boy named Bobby Jones.

Those making it all the way to the quarterfinals with Bowles and Ralston include Harris, Schniederjans, 2015 Georgia Amateur champion Dru Love of St. Simons Island, Arnoult, Tyler Joiner of Leesburg and Mikkelsen.

A 36-hole stroke play qualifier was held at the Crabapple Course of Capital City Club in Woodstock on Tuesday and Wednesday. The 32 players who made match play have earned an exemption into next year's Georgia Amateur Championship.

Entries for the Centennial Georgia Amateur Championship were open to male amateur golfers who are GSGA members and residents of Georgia. The format is match play preceded by 36 holes of stroke play qualifying.

Stroke play to be played at Capital City Club-Crabapple - yardage
Match play to be played at Capital City Club-Brookhaven - yardage

 

LAST CHANCE QUALIFIER - ECHELON GOLF CLUB, ALPHARETTA - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29 - FINAL RESULTS  

Qualifiers
East	Augusta Country Club	May 23	Pairings/Scoring
Atlanta Northwest	Pinetree Country Club, Kennesaw	May 31	Pairings/Scoring
Atlanta North	Golf Club of Georgia, Alpharetta	May 31	Pairings/Scoring
Southwest	Doublegate Country Club, Albany	June 3	Pairings/Scoring
Atlanta North	Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek	June 6	Pairings/Scoring
Southeast	The Savannah Golf Club	June 6	Pairings/Scoring
Middle	Idle Hour Club, Macon	June 6	Pairings/Scoring
Northeast	Reynolds Lake Oconee (Great Waters), Eatonton	June 7	Pairings/Scoring
West	Green Island Country Club, Columbus	June 7	Pairings/Scoring
Northwest	Coosa Country Club, Rome	June 20	Pairings/Scoring