Ogletree rallies to take down Augenstein in U.S. Amateur final
Andy Ogletree, L, shakes hands with John Augenstein after winning the 2019 U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (Course No. 2) in Village of Pinehurst, N.C. on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)
“To be honest, I didn’t play that bad (in the morning),” Ogletree said after the match. “John just got off to a great start. He’s a great player. I knew it was going to be a tough match, and it’s a long day. 36 holes is a lot of golf, and you can’t really beat yourself up over the first six. I really did a good job of staying in it, and I just knew if I kept hitting fairways and greens and keeping myself in position, it would work out.”
Ogletree began the afternoon round with a birdie at the first hole of Pinehurst No 2, getting within one hole. Augenstein, the No. 38-ranked amateur in the world, twice built his lead back to two holes, but the Tech senior continued to battle, making pars at the 25th hole and the 29th hole to get back within one and keeping the pressure on the Owensboro, Ky., native with precise approach shots.
He finally pulled even with a birdie at the 31st hole, a short par-4 (319 yards) on which he hit the middle of the fairway with a 5-iron while Augenstein went with driver and left his ball in a greenside bunker. He then took the lead with a par at the 32nd hole.
After both players parred the par-3 33rd, it appeared as though Augenstein may square the match at the 34th when Ogletree hit his approach into the left greenside bunker. But Ogletree recovered and calmly rolled in a 10-foot par putt to maintain his 1-up advantage.
Both players hit their tee shots within 20 feet of the front-left hole location on the 181-yard, par-3 35th. The match seemed likely to extend to the 36th hole, but in a rare lapse of concentration, Augenstein rammed his birdie effort from the fringe 12 feet past the hole.
After Ogletree lagged his putt to within 3 feet, Augenstein missed the comebacker for par. Still away, he burned the left edge on his bogey putt and immediately conceded Ogletree’s par. It was a stunning turn of events in a championship match that featured 16 combined birdies.
PINEHURST, N.C. – Georgia Tech’s Andy Ogletree defeated Vanderbilt’s John Augenstein 2 and 1 in the 36-hole final match to win the 119th U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst on Sunday evening.
Earlier this week Augenstein explained his strategy of winning the first six holes, and he did just that, taking an early 4 up lead through the first five holes.
“I got off to the start that you always want to get off to on one of these days,” explained Augenstein. “Although I was 4 up through 5, it’s 36 holes. There’s a lot of golf left. I wasn’t at all complacent about thinking I’ve got this thing won through six holes.”
Ogletree, a Yellow Jacket senior, was able to weather the storm and eventually cut the deficit to 2 down after the opening 18 holes on Pinehurst No. 4 with a clutch birdie on No. 18. Through the first 18 holes, Augenstein was 4 under while Ogletree finished 3 under.
Andy Ogletree tees off on the first hole during the 2019 U.S. Amateur final at Pinehurst. Photo: USGA/Chris Keane
“I think that’s an underrated turning point of the day was him making that putt on 18 and then coming out and birdieing the first hole, as well,” added Augenstein.
For the first time in history, the 36-hole final match took place over two courses: Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4. After a 2 hour break, the finalists teed off on Pinehurst No. 2 at 2:30 p.m. ET for the final 18 holes of the tournament.
“To be honest, I didn’t play that bad (in the morning),” Ogletree said after the match. “John just got off to a great start. He’s a great player. I knew it was going to be a tough match, and it’s a long day. 36 holes is a lot of golf, and you can’t really beat yourself up over the first six. I really did a good job of staying in it, and I just knew if I kept hitting fairways and greens and keeping myself in position, it would work out.”
Ogletree began the afternoon round with a birdie at the first hole of Pinehurst No 2, getting within one hole. Augenstein, the No. 38-ranked amateur in the world, twice built his lead back to two holes, but the Tech senior continued to battle, making pars at the 25th hole and the 29th hole to get back within one and keeping the pressure on the Owensboro, Ky., native with precise approach shots.
He finally pulled even with a birdie at the 31st hole, a short par-4 (319 yards) on which he hit the middle of the fairway with a 5-iron while Augenstein went with driver and left his ball in a greenside bunker. He then took the lead with a par at the 32nd hole.
After both players parred the par-3 33rd, it appeared as though Augenstein may square the match at the 34th when Ogletree hit his approach into the left greenside bunker. But Ogletree recovered and calmly rolled in a 10-foot par putt to maintain his 1-up advantage.
Both players hit their tee shots within 20 feet of the front-left hole location on the 181-yard, par-3 35th. The match seemed likely to extend to the 36th hole, but in a rare lapse of concentration, Augenstein rammed his birdie effort from the fringe 12 feet past the hole.
After Ogletree lagged his putt to within 3 feet, Augenstein missed the comebacker for par. Still away, he burned the left edge on his bogey putt and immediately conceded Ogletree’s par. It was a stunning turn of events in a championship match that featured 16 combined birdies.
PINEHURST, N.C. – Georgia Tech’s Andy Ogletree defeated Vanderbilt’s John Augenstein 2 and 1 in the 36-hole final match to win the 119th U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst on Sunday evening.
Earlier this week Augenstein explained his strategy of winning the first six holes, and he did just that, taking an early 4 up lead through the first five holes.
“I got off to the start that you always want to get off to on one of these days,” explained Augenstein. “Although I was 4 up through 5, it’s 36 holes. There’s a lot of golf left. I wasn’t at all complacent about thinking I’ve got this thing won through six holes.”
Ogletree, a Yellow Jacket senior, was able to weather the storm and eventually cut the deficit to 2 down after the opening 18 holes on Pinehurst No. 4 with a clutch birdie on No. 18. Through the first 18 holes, Augenstein was 4 under while Ogletree finished 3 under.
Andy Ogletree tees off on the first hole during the 2019 U.S. Amateur final at Pinehurst. Photo: USGA/Chris Keane
“I think that’s an underrated turning point of the day was him making that putt on 18 and then coming out and birdieing the first hole, as well,” added Augenstein.
For the first time in history, the 36-hole final match took place over two courses: Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4. After a 2 hour break, the finalists teed off on Pinehurst No. 2 at 2:30 p.m. ET for the final 18 holes of the tournament.
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