MANAKIN-SABOT, VIRGINIA | Two-time Ohio Amateur champion Andrew Bailey stormed back during Sunday’s final round at Kinloch Golf Club to win the mid-amateur division of the inaugural Giles Invitational, named for amateur champion Vinny Giles, Kinloch’s co-founder and co-designer.
“Mr. Giles is a legend in amateur golf,” Bailey said. “To win at the place that Vinny built is a pretty special moment.”
Matt Sughrue, 65, won the senior division. After walking off the 18th green, he embraced Giles.
“Winning here means a lot because I’ve known Vinny since I was 15,” Sughrue said. “I’ve always looked up to him and he’s the standard of amateur golf.”
The Giles Invitational boasted a strong field, with 60 of the best mid-amateurs and 30 of the best seniors in the game. Included were five U.S. Mid-Amateur champions and four U.S. Senior Amateur winners.
Bailey started the final round four shots off the lead after shooting 72-68 (-4) the first two days. He proceeded to go 7-under in the first 13 holes of the final round and posted a closing 67, equaling the tournament-low round, for a 9-under 207 total. Bailey finished two strokes ahead of William Minton, Blanton Farmer and Jeronimo Esteve.
“I kept my brain in the moment. I knew I had to play a solid 18.”
Matt Sughrue
“I got off to a poor start in Rounds 1 and 2 but was playing the back [nine] well,” Bailey said. “My only thoughts were to get off to a good start and apply some pressure.”
Sughrue shot 73-69-73 (-1) to finish one stroke better than Jeff Knox, a former Masters Tournament marker, who famously outscored Rory McIlroy on Saturday during the 2014 Masters. Sughrue and Knox arrived at the 54th hole tied after Knox made a lengthy birdie putt on 17. Sughrue clinched victory with a closing par, while Knox bogeyed the par-5 finishing hole.
“I kept my brain in the moment,” said Sughrue, alluding to Knox’s long birdie putt. “I knew I had to play a solid 18.”
Elsewhere in the Giles Invitational, 25-year-old Connor Doyal proved you’re never out of a golf tournament. After a first-round 74, the full-time Kiawah Island caddie bounced back with a 67 in the second. Doyal shot 71 in the final round and finished T6.
“It’s crazy that it’s the same guy,” Doyal said after the second round. “Yesterday was an anomaly because I’ve been playing well recently. Today I was fortunate to strike it well again and score this time.”
Giles said he hopes to make his namesake tournament an annual event. “It’s special because these guys were so great to all agree to come,” Giles said.
The event will be played again next year, but Giles said a large part of the decision to keep running the tournament after that will be player feedback. The inaugural edition received rave reviews.
“This is most definitely the nicest mid-amateur event I’ve played in,” Doyal said. “It’s first-class service from the time you get to the club. Every small thing has been well thought out and well executed.”
RESULTS
Everett Munez