Hugo Bernard after his Orlando International victory
(Orlando International Photo)
ORLANDO, FL (December 30, 2016) -- Hugo Bernard
capped off a fabulous 2016 season with his third
Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Ranking victory of the year
on Friday at the Orlando International Amateur. Bernard
led heading into the final round but after some early
round struggles he was forced to rally late before
winning in a playoff over Ben Griffin.
Starting the day 7-under at Orange County National
Golf Center & Lodge's Panther Lake Golf Course
Bernard, a member of the 2016 St. Leo Division II NCAA
National Championship team, struggled in a big way at
the beginning of his final round. With the entire field
teeing off No. 10, Bernard double-bogeyed the 13th and
then dropped strokes with an additional three bogeys to
fall back to 2-under for the tournament.
Bernard, who had led all week long was now in an
unfamiliar position, the chasing position. He started his
rally with a second hole birdie and then just as he was
running out of holes he birdied the seventh and ninth
holes to force a playoff.
The Orlando International Amateur trophy will now
rest on the mantle next to his 2016 NCAA Division II
Championship Individual and Canadian Amateur
trophies.
North Carolina junior Ben Griffin began his day at
5-under and thats where he ended it following an even-
par 72 in the final round. However, it wasn't your typical
72 as Griffin birdied his last three holes just to reach the
playoff. Like Bernard, Griffen faltered early and had to
scratch at the end of his round to force extra holes.
Through 15-holes Griffin was 3-over and 2-under for the
week, setting up his late round heroics.
Jacob Huizinga of West Florida ended up third at 3-
under while Wisconsin's Jordan Hahn and TCU's Stefano
Mazzoli shared fourth at 2-under.
WOMEN'S DIVISION
 |
Jessica
Porvasnik |
Ohio State senior Jessica Porvasnik completed a
wire-to-wire run in the Women's Division hosted by the
Crooked Cat Golf Course at the Orange County National
Golf Center & Lodge. Porvasnik concluded her week with
a 3-over 75 to tally an even-par score for the week that
put her three ahead of Mississippi State teammates
Katie Holt and Ji Eun Baik.
During the final round Porvasnik birdied twice, the
first came on the opening hole while her final tweeter
was on No. 13.
Holt, a sophomore, and Eun Baik, a senior, shared
second with a 3-over mark. UCF's Ashley Holder and
Amy Zhang were fourth at 5-over.
ABOUT THE
Orlando International Amateur
The Orlando International Amateur Championship is
an annual golf tournament gathering high-level
amateur golfers from the United States of America
and abroad. 54-hole stroke play championship,
playing 18 holes per day.
Open to low-handicap amateurs, players who play
college golf, players who have qualified for any of
the
current year's USGA or R&A championships, and
those who have the recommendation of their
country’s Federation or Association.
View Complete Tournament Information