Josh Irving is all smiles after overcoming a six-stroke deficit
(TXGA Photo)
BEE CAVE, TX (September 25, 2016) -- Josh Irving
from Dallas stormed back from a six-shot deficit in
the final 18 holes to win the 2016 Texas Mid-
Amateur Championship at Spanish Oaks Golf Club.
Irving, the 2015 Texas Player of the Year, fired a
4-under-par 68 in the final round to win by two shots
with a 54-hole score of 3-under 210. Rick Sulzer
from Carrollton, Christopher Wheeler from Addison
and Colby Harwell from San Antonio tied for second
place at 1-under 212.
Riding a wave of success after his second
consecutive U.S. Mid-Amateur Quarterfinalist
appearance, Irving began the final round of the
Texas Mid-Amateur at even-par. He was six shots
behind the 36-hole leader, C.J. Brock from
Richardson. There were four players between Irving
and Brock as the final round began, including
Harwell.
After three pars to open the final round, Irving
pulled his drive left on the par-4 fourth hole. He
received a fortunate break that his ball was sitting up
in the native grass that permeates the Spanish Oaks
course. He had 165 yards from the hole and 142
yards to the front of the green.
“I just wanted to get it to the front edge
because I knew it would hop forward,” said Irving,
who won the 2015 North Texas Amateur and North
Texas Four-Ball in addition to a number of high
finishes last year. “I hit my 9-iron as hard as I could
at the right-center of the green and it almost rolled
in. I got really lucky.”
The shot stopped two feet from the hole. He
tapped in the birdie and proceeded to birdie the
sixth, seventh and eight holes to mount his charge.
Meanwhile, Brock struggled with three bogeys and a
double-bogey in his opening seven holes.
Irving added a fifth birdie on the par-5 11th hole
to take the lead, and he never relinquished it as he
parred the next six holes. A two-putt bogey on the
final hole sealed the two-shot victory. He’ll take the
momentum next Wednesday to the Country Club of
Birmingham to represent Texas as one-third of the
U.S. State Team Championship squad with Zach
Atkinson from Colleyville and Scott Abbott from
Dallas.
“I was third in points for the State Team,” Irving
said. “The TGA picks the third player for that team.
Colby Harwell played really well all year, and I
thought there was a really good chance Colby would
get picked. When the TGA picked me, I really wanted
to validate that decision this week.”
Mission accomplished, and his victory at Spanish
Oaks puts him in position to potentially win a second
straight Player of the Year award.
“It’s a big testament to how far I’ve come,” he
said. “I’m really proud of myself. I’ve come a long
way.”
Brock, the first- and second-round leader,
finished in fifth place at 1-over 214.
Sunday began with a second round restart after
darkness suspended play late on Saturday before the
second round was completed. Play resumed at 7:34
a.m. on Sunday. Brock, holding a one-shot lead
overnight, began the restart on the 15th tee and
holed out his second shot from the fairway. The
eagle took him to 6-under par. It also gave him a
three-shot lead over Harwell. Brock made three pars
to finish his second round with his second
consecutive 68.
Fifty-six players made the 36-hole cut at 12-
over 154. Five of the eight Spanish Oaks members in
the field this week advance to the final round, led by
Patrick Dat, who tied for ninth at 5-over 218. The
other host members to make the cut included Josh
Swanson (T11), Will Douglas (18th place), Joe
Sanders (T25) and Chris Badciong (54th place).
View results for Texas Mid-Amateur
ABOUT THE
Texas Mid-Amateur
Eligibility: Entries are open to male golfers
with a
USGA Handicap index of 8.4 or less, and who
are
25 years of age or older by the first day of
championship qualifying.
Format/Field Size: 54 holes of stroke play. At the
completion of 36 holes the field is cut to the low 54
players and ties. The field is limited to 132 players.
Mid-Master Recognition: In addition to the overall
champion, an award will be given to the low Mid-
Master finisher. (Mid-Master – any player 40+ years
of age)
View Complete Tournament Information