Andy Ogletree wins 2019 U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst

Amidst the excitement of the FedEx Cup, there has been another huge event taking place under the radar. The U.S. Amateur.

Unless you pay attention to college and the amateur ranks, the fact that the U.S. Amateur was taking place this month probably slipped past you. With the excitement of the FedEx Cup, it is easy to see how it can go unnoticed.

This year’s event has wrapped up, and a new champion has been crowned. Andy Ogletree, a senior from Georgia Tech, claimed the 119th U.S. Amateur Sunday at Pineshurt after 35 holes of golf.

He defeated John Augenstein of Vanderbilt, although that didn’t look like it was going to be the case through the first 30 holes.

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The final was split over two courses at Pinehurst. The morning 18 was played on Pinehurst Course Number 4. Augenstein started hot, making three straight birdies at one point, which helped propel him to take a commanding early lead after winning four straight holes, 4 up through only five holes.

Ogletree was able to chip away before the morning round was finished, and was down 2 by the time they were done with the first 18, thanks in part to a nice 25 footer that he made to win the 18th hole.

The afternoon round was played at Pinehurst Course number 2. For the first 10 holes of the round, it looked like much of the same, with Augenstein holding onto his lead, 2 up with 7 holes left.

Andy Ogletree was not going to go away that easy.

The 29th hole of the day is where he started his comeback. A par there would cut Augenstein’s lead to 1 up. After a fantastic wedge shot on the 31st hole, they were tied for the first time since play started.

With all the momentum (whether or not you believe in momentum is an argument for another day), Ogletree was not going to be denied.

He would win the next hole as well, sitting 1 up with only four holes to play.

The match looked prime to swing back to even with the momentum swinging back to Augenstein, but Ogletree was feeling it. After hitting into a greenside bunker on the 34th hole, he would hit a fantastic bunker shot to within 10 feet, converting his sand save to halve the hole.

Ogletree’s bunker shot sapped all of the hope out of Augenstein. Augenstein would hit it onto the fringe on the par-3 17th (35th) hole. He would then four-putt for a double bogey. Meanwhile, Ogletree stuck his tee shot and two-putted for par and the win, 2&1.

Taking home the U.S. Amateur championship results in a handful of fantastic invitations. He now has a spot on this year’s Walker Cup Team. He also earned an invite to next year’s British Open, with both he and Augenstein earning invitations to the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, as well as invites to the Masters.

Next. Presidents Cup 2019: Automatic qualifiers set for Team USA. dark

Huge congratulations go out to both of these young men. Especially to your 2019 champion, Andy Ogletree.

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