(VCU Athletics)

The two came to 17 all square in the championship match. Both players missed the green left, facing downhill, sidehill pitch shots. Kapsak's lob came up about 15 feet short, but Ball lofted his perfectly and it trickled to within 2 1/2 feet of the hole. Chris hit a good putt that just missed, and Adam calmly rolled in his short putt to win the hole. On 18, both players had around 190 yards for their second shots up the hill. Kapsak hit a beautiful shot right at the flag that finished about 25 feet behind the hole. Knowing he needed to answer, Ball also hit a great shot that finished about 20 feet left of the flag. Chris hit a great putt that barely stayed out, rolling over the right edge. Adam managed to get his approach putt down to within a foot and tapped it in for the win.

This was Ball's second trip to the final match, losing in 2011 to Nick Austin in extra holes at CCV. Unfortunately for Austin, who had won the last two Amateur Championships, knee surgery kept him from defending his crown this year.

Special thanks to Richard White and his staff at Willow Oaks. The golf course was perfect, and their attention to the details of running a tournament was second to none. Flawless.