In a finale that had everything—momentum swings, clutch birdies, and a walk-off approach—Colorado School of Mines senior Lukas Taggart etched his name on the 122nd NCGA Amateur Championship at Spyglass Hill Golf Course, defeating Jimmy Castles on the 39th hole. The victory elevates Taggart into a storied roll of champions that includes Lawson Little Jr., Charles Seaver, and John Brodie.

How the marathon final unfolded

Castles landed the early blows, birdieing three of his first ten holes to surge 4 up, and he stretched the advantage to 5 up through 11 as Taggart leaked bogeys. Taggart, studying Mechanical Engineering, kept the round from getting away and leaned into patience: “I just told myself to stick with it.”

The afternoon belonged to Taggart. Castles opened the second 18 with back-to-back bogeys, slicing the lead, and a Taggart birdie on the 21st hole (Spyglass No. 3) cut the deficit to one. The match see-sawed until Castles reasserted control with birdie on the 33rd to go 2 up with three to play. Taggart answered with a birdie on the 35th and then leveled the match on the 36th when Castles failed to reach the green in regulation.

The shot of the championship

On the par-5 39th (back at No. 1), Castles’ tee shot left him under a tree. Standing in the fairway, Taggart unleashed a towering 3-wood from ~260 yards that chased onto the green and settled 20 feet from the hole. A routine two-putt for birdie applied maximum pressure; Castles’ five-footer to extend just missed on the low side.

“It was one of the best shots, scenario-wise, that I’ve ever hit.” — Lukas Taggart

What it means

The victory secures Taggart an automatic exemption into the 2026 U.S. Amateur at Merion and places him alongside NCGA legends on the championship’s honor roll. For Castles, who controlled long stretches of the match, the performance underscores his competitive edge at one of amateur golf’s toughest venues.

By the numbers

• Largest deficit overcome by the champion: 5 down
• Final match length: 39 holes (ties event record)
• Closing sequence: Taggart birdies 35, squares on 36, wins on 39