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John Peters Wins Penn Am in Historic Fashion
7/28/2021 9:37:00 PM | Men's Golf
ARDMORE, Pa. – Down a stroke with one hole to play at Merion Golf Club, incoming Duke men's golf freshman John Peters won the 108th Pennsylvania Amateur in historic fashion Wednesday on one of America's iconic golf courses.
The soon-to-be-Blue Devil from Carlisle, Pa., was in the 18th fairway, 193 yards away from the hole. Trying to hit it close to give himself a look at birdie and a potential tie, Peters did even better as he hammered an 8-iron that landed on the front of the green, released back towards the hole, continued tracking and eventually tapped Marion's famous wicker basket flagstick and fell into the hole for his unlikely eagle.
"I was just trying to land it somewhere in that 175 number," said Peters, of Carlisle Country Club. "We know how firm the greens are downwind and that it could run out. I was really just trying to hit it close and get a look at birdie because I thought there would be a playoff at 1-over par."
Instead, on a hole where there wasn't a single birdie posted in Wednesday's final round, Peters made eagle to finish at even par overall to win the championship at Merion, which has hosted 17 USGA championships, including five United States Opens.
"It's a testament to it's never over until it's over," said Peters. "I wasn't even thinking about it [going in]. Obviously there's a bit of luck there. I was waiting for some kind of clap but I thought it was long, then we heard a big hurrah. I've never experienced anything like that. It's just a tremendous blessing. It was really one of the most patient rounds I've ever played. It's a U.S. Open course and rightly so - even par wins it."
Peters carded rounds of 67, 73 and 70 to finish at even-par 210 and one stroke clear of the field. Patrick Sheehan, the leader entering the final round, had a birdie putt to tie Peters just moments after his eagle, but couldn't convert.
Peters' title comes just a week after another incoming freshman men's golfer, Kelly Chinn, earned medalist honors in the 73rd U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at The Country Club of North Carolina.
#GoDuke
The soon-to-be-Blue Devil from Carlisle, Pa., was in the 18th fairway, 193 yards away from the hole. Trying to hit it close to give himself a look at birdie and a potential tie, Peters did even better as he hammered an 8-iron that landed on the front of the green, released back towards the hole, continued tracking and eventually tapped Marion's famous wicker basket flagstick and fell into the hole for his unlikely eagle.
"I was just trying to land it somewhere in that 175 number," said Peters, of Carlisle Country Club. "We know how firm the greens are downwind and that it could run out. I was really just trying to hit it close and get a look at birdie because I thought there would be a playoff at 1-over par."
Instead, on a hole where there wasn't a single birdie posted in Wednesday's final round, Peters made eagle to finish at even par overall to win the championship at Merion, which has hosted 17 USGA championships, including five United States Opens.
"It's a testament to it's never over until it's over," said Peters. "I wasn't even thinking about it [going in]. Obviously there's a bit of luck there. I was waiting for some kind of clap but I thought it was long, then we heard a big hurrah. I've never experienced anything like that. It's just a tremendous blessing. It was really one of the most patient rounds I've ever played. It's a U.S. Open course and rightly so - even par wins it."
Peters carded rounds of 67, 73 and 70 to finish at even-par 210 and one stroke clear of the field. Patrick Sheehan, the leader entering the final round, had a birdie putt to tie Peters just moments after his eagle, but couldn't convert.
Peters' title comes just a week after another incoming freshman men's golfer, Kelly Chinn, earned medalist honors in the 73rd U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at The Country Club of North Carolina.
#GoDuke
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