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Coming into the final round of the 114th Southern Amateur at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas, McClure Meissner trailed 54-hole leader Cole Hammer by six strokes and had a bevy of other top amateurs ahead of him if he harbored any hopes of a run to the title.
That didn’t stop the 21-year-old standout from Southern Methodist University from making a final-round charge, shooting a 6-under 66 that led to an eventual victory against David Perkins on the first hole of a playoff.
“When I woke up, I thought six shots was a little too much,” said Meissner (above). “I didn’t think I would be able to make that up, just because the guys who were leading were really good players who have won some great events.
“I knew they were going to set the course up hard, so I was just hoping for a good under-par round to get myself up the leaderboard a little bit for a nice finish going into the Western (Amateur).”
Those expectations changed quickly on a warm, windy day at Maridoe. Meissner, playing in a threesome five groups in front of the final group, started his day with a pure 9-iron to 20 feet and a birdie putt that went right in the heart. With three subsequent birdies, he was out in 4-under 32 and firmly in the mix.
After a bogey on No. 10, Meissner rebounded with the shot of the tournament – a 7-iron from 190 yards on No. 12 that rolled to within a few feet of the hole. He followed with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 to put himself in position to win.
Meanwhile, others had faltered. Hammer, who started the day at 7 under, made double bogey at the par-4 fifth and never regrouped on his way to 7-over 79. His heralded teammate at the University of Texas, Pierceson Coody, had started the day one back of the lead but struggled early and finished with a 5-over 77. The duo, both in the top 20 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking, had surprisingly cleared the stage for others to have a shot at the title.
Clay Merchant, ranked No. 984 in the WAGR, seemed to take control when he made five birdies in his first 11 holes to reach 8 under, at one point building a three-stroke lead. But the Noblesville, Indiana, golfer closed out with two double bogeys and two bogeys in his last six holes.
Perkins, from Illinois State, was runner-up at the Jones Cup Invitational. Although he didn’t have a great start to his last round alongside Hammer and Coody in the final threesome, he found late lightning with a birdie at No. 14 and an eagle at No. 16, before saving par at the last to force the playoff with Meissner.
Meissner’s father and swing coach had told him to expect a playoff, which helped him stay warm and carry momentum to the extra hole. The playoff didn’t last long as Perkins missed the green and failed to get up and down. Meissner hit a solid approach to about 20 feet and easily two-putted, giving him the title.
It was the first competitive tournament for Meissner in five months, dating to the suspension of the college season because of the coronavirus pandemic. The San Antonio golfer had played in a Monday qualifier a week earlier at the Korn Ferry Tour event in his hometown, which gave him an indication of where he stood mentally and physically. His 6-under 66 in the qualifier was only good enough to tie for 12th place, but it offered confidence moving forward.
“I think to have gotten at least one tournament round under my belt before this one was huge,” Meissner said. “Just to see where my game was at, it gave me confidence because I feel so comfortable at Maridoe.”
Meissner will next play in the Western Amateur before going to the U.S. Amateur at Bandon Dunes next month.
Staff and Wire Reports