Davis Bryant Wins Colorado Amateur Championship

19-year-old sophomore triumphs in his event debut.

Two Sundays after chasing his Colorado State University teammate for the low amateur title in the CoBank Colorado Open, Davis Bryant was the one being chased in the Colorado Golf Association Amateur (formerly known as the Stroke Play) Championship at Lakewood Country Club.

But unlike when he came one shot shy of forcing a playoff with A.J. Ott at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, the 19-year-old Bryant found himself one shot ahead of University of Northern Colorado sophomore Jack Castiglia at Lakewood after the 72nd hole.

The victory made Bryant the third 19-year-old winner of the Amateur since 2000, following Steven Kupcho and Chris Korte, who won in 2012 and 2015 respectively. In 2010, current PGA Tour player Wyndham Clark won at the the age of 16.

For Bryant—who won the 2017 Junior Amateur and the 2017 and 2018 Junior PGA Championships—the triumph came his first appearance in an open-age state major tournament.

Wire-to-Wire

He clearly made the most of it, leading at the end of each of the four days. After opening with rounds of 65 and 68, Bryant found himself five shots ahead of the field going into Moving Day.

But a 2-over 73 paired with Castiglia’s 3-under 68 shrank Bryant’s lead to one shot going into Sunday’s action. Both players made a pair of birdies on the par-35 front nine, but Castigila bogeyed the par-3 7th, giving Bryant a two-shot cushion at the turn.

Bryant’s birdie at the par-5 13th would extend that lead to three—a margin that would hold until the 18th hole.

Bryant needed every bit of that cushion. On the final hole, a 420-yard par-4 with water fronting the green, Bryant’s tee shot drifted far right and his approach flew the green by 30 feet.

A chip and three putts later, he’d carded his first double-bogey of the tournament—and, with Castiglia making par, his first state major title.

Coincidences

Bryant’s 1-under 70 gave him a final tally of 8-under-par for the tournament. Also carding 70s were Castigilia, his UNC teammate Griffin Barela (3rd place at 4-under), University of Denver’s Jackson Solem (4th at 3-under) and Ottawa (Arizona) University senior Austin Hardman  (5th at 1-under).

The leaderboard remained identical to when the day started, with the 19-year-old former JGAC Player of the Year holding first adult trophy.

And where was Ott, the CoBank Colorado Open low amateur? He was on the cusp of making the Match Play at the U.S. Amateur in Pinehurst, N.C.

For all the scores from the CGA Amateur, CLICK HERE.

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