Remi Chartier birdied the 72nd hole to force a playoff and then defeated Aidan Kramer in sudden death to successfully defend his title on Sunday in the New Year’s Invitational at St. Petersburg Country Club in Florida.
After winning by three strokes in last year’s edition, the Canadian who lives in Naples, Florida, and plays his college golf at East Tennessee State appeared destined for a similar result when he shot a third-round 65 to take a two-stroke lead into the final day. However, three early bogeys in a 2-over 38 front nine opened the door to pursuers.
Kramer, a Georgia Tech sophomore, took full advantage by making three birdies in his opening 10 holes to go from four strokes behind to one stroke ahead. A double bogey on the par-4 12th set him back, but birdies at Nos. 16 and 18 put him in the clubhouse at 9-under 279.
While Kramer made his move, Chartier’s round had stalled into a string of pars. He came to the par-5 18th hole – arguably the easiest hole on the course – needing a birdie to force a playoff. Nic Hofman of Purdue, who started the day two strokes back, hung around with steady play and had the same opportunity. Hofman could only manage par, but Chartier converted his birdie to get into a playoff and then defeated Kramer in sudden death.
John Daly II, the son of the two-time major champion who partnered with his father to win last month’s PNC Championship, was in second place through 36 holes before shooting 75-74 on the weekend. The Arkansas Razorback settled for a tie for 12th.
In the mid-amateur division, David Lang of Toronto made it a Canadian double by shooting 6-under 282. John Hunter (2-under) and Troy Vanucci (1-under) were his closest competitors.
Emma McMyler of San Antonio, Texas, shot 1-under 287 to edge Michelle Zhang by one stroke on Saturday in the Women’s South Atlantic Amateur – better known as the Sally – at Oceanside Country Club in Ormond Beach, Florida.
McMyler, the Big East Player of the Year as a freshman at Xavier, shot a pair of 70s in the second and third rounds to take a two-stroke lead into the final round. Zhang, an SMU commit from Plano, Texas, had a hard time applying pressure throughout the day but stayed within striking distance as the two players combined for 10 bogeys and just five birdies for the afternoon.
Zhang fell four strokes off the pace until a stretch on the back nine where she birdied Nos. 11, 12 and 16 to get within one shot. Both players would make par on Nos. 17 and 18, as McMyler staved off Zhang’s charge.
McMyler is a player to watch in 2022. Last year, she won both the Women’s Texas Amateur and the Texas Women’s Stroke Play Championship. She also made a run to the round of 16 in the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Latanna Stone, an LSU junior from Riverview, Florida, continued her run of excellent form, shooting 12-under 204 to easily defend her title on Thursday in the Women’s Orlando International Amateur at Orange County National Golf Center’s Panther Creek and Crooked Cat courses.
Last year, Stone had to fight to the last hole in a one-stroke win over Haeley Wotnosky. There was no drama this year, however, as Stone opened with a pair of 67s and began the third and final round with a seven-stroke lead. She would finish with the same margin of victory, topping Alexa Pano (5-under) and Michelle Liu (4-under).
Stone began the week at No. 48 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, the best ranking of her career to this point. She won the Dixie Amateur last month and had a top-five at the inaugural Stephens Cup in October.
Staff and Wire Reports