Matt Vogt (left) and Kevin O'Brien (Picard Cup Photo)

So he tapped it down the slope, and what felt like three minutes later, the ball fell in the hole, continuing the Picard Cup at the historic Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland. Ohio.

"It was pretty unbelievable," Kevin O'Brien said.

Vogt added, "I hit it with the speed of about six inches."

They knew they needed a birdie because Zachary Herold put his approach shot on the first playoff hole to tap in range, almost holing it for a walk-off eagle. Herold and Sam Jackson won the 2023 championship. 

A large playoff was needed to determine a winner after four teams finished the 54-hole championship at 8-under. O'Brien/Vogt and Herold/Jackson made birdies and advanced to the second hole. Both teams made par on the second hole, and a par from Kevin O'Brien on the third playoff hole gave the pair the mid-amateur division win.

"We have been playing these team events together for three years now and we both hit it pretty far and know we can make some birdies," O'Brien said. "We just wanted to get out there and get the momentum going." 

O'Brien added, "We are comfortable with each other and good friends."

"We complement each other so well, and we have a ton of fun," Vogt said. (Kevin) has grown so much as a player, and so have I. 

The pair has played this and The Champions Cup together for the last three years, finishing in seventh place in 2022 and third place in 2023. 

The closing holes are difficult at Canterbury, so the pair knew they didn't need to press at 8-under.

"We tried to make birdies, but we didn’t want to press and do anything stupid," Vogt said. 

Vogt and O'Brien shot rounds of 69-71-68 to get to 8-under. The first round was best ball, the second round was alternate shot, and the final round was best ball.

"You hope you win, but it is just as much about the love of the game of golf," Vogt said. (Picard Cup and Canterbury) does such an amazing job running the event. 
We are psyched to have won it and be a part of the history of it." 

O'Brien added, "It’s a great field, but we knew we wanted to win this week, and it is great to get it done."

In the Senior Division, Jeff Mallette and Jim Durr shot 6-under in the final round to reach 8-under and win by four shots. Mallette and Durr shot rounds of 67-75-66 to get to 8-under. 

John Simpson and Tony Hejna finished in solo second place at 4-under, while Doug Hanzel and Buzz Fly and Fred DiSanto and Larry Joseph finished T3 at 3-under.