Christopher Ferris (Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association)

Eight shots behind the leader, Chris Kovach, heading into the final round of the 30th Metropolitan Amateur Championship, Christopher Ferris sat in an ever distant second place.

Kovach tore apart Meadowbrook Country Club in Ballwin, Missouri on Friday. Tallying 13 birdies and five bogeys over his first 36-holes, Kovach tied the tournament’s 36-hole scoring record but could not keep his remarkable pace on Saturday, posting a 4-over 76.

Enter Christopher Ferris.

After an opening 70 and a second-round 74, the University of Missouri-St. Louis senior was even-par but far from Kovach. Plodding his way around the course, Ferris was on fire as the two made the turn. Closing the front nine out with four birdies on hole Nos. 5-8, he gained six shots on Kovach.

“I just went out and played my game," Ferris told the MAGA. "I knew the front 9 was my 9 and played the front in 6-under the first two days, if I played it in 3-under it would make it a match on the back 9."

Out in 31, Ferris mellowed out on the back-nine needing to make up three shots as they stood on the 15th tee. Carding birdies on Nos. 15 and 17, while Kovach dropped a shot on the par-3 17th the duo were tied on the 18th tee.

With the pressure cooker on high, Kovach could not capitalize on the championship as he made a double-bogey six to Ferris’ par, essentially handing the trophy to Ferris.

Without a doubt, Ferris won the event rather than Kovach losing it. Applying the pressure when it mattered most, he capped off the summer with a remarkable final round 66.

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