- Marty Perlmutter photo
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (Dec. 22, 2011)—
Hometown hero Curtis Thompson saved the
best for last, shooting a 5-under 67 at the
7,234-yard Heron Bay Golf Club on Thursday to
win the 81st Dixie Amateur by two shots over
Daniel Berger of Jupiter, Fla.
Thompson's four-round total of 13-under 274
was four better than Motin Yeung of Orlando,
Fla., who finished alone in third.
"That was a lot of fun, but I have to say there
was some pressure," said Thompson, who
turned 19 just nine days ago. The Louisiana
State University freshman was cheered on by
a sizeable gallery that included some golfing
buddies and "my whole family…Mom, Dad, my
grandparents, brother [Nick, a professional
golfer], Lexi…everybody."
"Lexi" is more formally known as the
phenomenal Alexis Thompson, who this year,
at the age of 16, became the youngest ever
to win on the LPGA and European women's
tours. She also won the women's Dixie Amateur
in 2007 at the age of 12, so she and Curtis
now are the first sister-brother duo to win this
prestigious title.
It was the first major amateur victory for
Thompson, who went into the Dixie Amateur
ranked 263rd by World Amateur Golf Ranking,
the official rankings of the USGA and R&A.
"I never enter an event thinking I can't win,"
said Thompson, whose first-round 69 left him
six shots back of leader Sebastian Pinzon of
Bogota, Colombia. While Pinzon ballooned to 81
in the second round and was never again a
factor, Thompson methodically posted
matching 69s in the second and third rounds,
leading each day by a single stroke.
"Going into today, I just concentrated on
keeping the ball in play. The turning point,
really, was when I bogeyed No. 6 but then
made a 30-footer for birdie on 7, and then
birdied 9 and 10."
While the final two rounds were played at
Heron Bay, former site of the PGA Tour's Honda
Classic, the field was split during the first two
days between Heron Bay and the East Course
at Woodlands Country Club. Both clubs are
owned by ClubLink, which also organizes and
conducts the Dixie Amateur. Although the
weather all week was sunny and warm, the
gusty winds took their toll. Eighty players out
of the starting field of 240 survived the 36-
hole cut that came at 4-over par or better.
"This is the third time I've played in the Dixie,
and this is by far the best," said Thompson.
"Everything, from the pace of play and how we
were treated, was a lot better overall."
With the victory, Thompson joins an impressive
list of champions who went on to PGA Tour
success, including Hal Sutton, Ryuji Imada,
Brandt Snedeker, Andy Bean, Bruce Fleisher,
Lanny Wadkins, Nolan Henke, Len Mattiace,
and Jesper Parnevik. Two-time defending
champion Peter Uihlein did not compete this
week as he has declared his intention to turn
professional next month.
The men's Dixie Amateur, first played in 1924,
is designated as one of the "majors" of
amateur golf by amateurgolf.com. More than
two dozen of the top 500 male amateurs in the
world, according to the WAGR, from 32 U.S.
states and 18 other countries competed in this
year's Dixie Amateur.
The women's and senior women's divisions of
the Dixie Amateur start Friday, Dec. 30, at
Heron Bay with almost 100 of the world's best
amateurs in the field.
ABOUT THE
Dixie Men's Amateur
Historic Florida amateur golf tournament
that
is
open to former Dixie Amateur champions,
tournament committee invitees and
qualifiers for
major amateur championships.
The Dixie has a traditionally strong
field due to college break, and a
past-champions list that includes many PGA
Tour
players as well as top-ranked amateurs.
72-hole stroke play
championship with a 54 hole cut down to 66 players
and ties. The field
limit will be 108 players. Played
at Eagle Trace Golf Club. Apply for
an invitation at
www.dixieamateur.com.
View Complete Tournament Information