Pitt takes 87th Carolinas Amateur Championship

TravelGolf.com Staff Report

Myrtle Beach, SC (JULY 16, 2001) - John Pitt of Wilmington, NC came from behind on the last nine holes to defeat Danny Gurley of Chapel Hill, NC, 2 and 1 to win the 87th Carolinas Amateur Championship at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

Pitt, a 23 year old Vanderbilt graduate, won five consecutive holes on the closing nine holes to take the title in the scheduled 36-hole match.

"You could feel the momentum change on the eleventh hole," said Pitt referring to Gurley's three-putt loss. "I was not even watching Danny putt as I was getting ready for the next hole and someone told me he missed it."

Pitt then proceeded to also win holes 30th - 33rd (12th -15th) to take a lead he would never lose.

Gurley, owner of several medical supply retail stores agreed.

"All the momentum changed on the 11th ", said the 40 year old Gurley. "You could actually feel it shift."

Pitt, who will turn pro in August, took a while to establish a lead.

"I won the first hole of the day and that was the last time I lead until our 31st hole," said Pitt. "However I was not too concerned about being behind as I felt I had an advantage with the fatigue factor by being younger."

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In the morning segment of the match, both players swapped wins on a few holes early to stay even. Gurley birdied 8 and 9 to take a 2-up lead. The match stayed at 2-up for most of the second nine until Pitt got back to within one with a birdie on 15. Gurley countered on 18 with a 30-foot birdie to go back to 2-up at the 18-hole break.

After the lunch break, Gurley won the 22nd (4th) with a par and Pitt gained one back by winning the 25th (7th) hole also with a par.

On the closing nine holes, Gurley's 2-up lead quickly vanished with Pitt winning five holes in a row beginning on the 29th (11th) to go 3-up.

Pitt's bogey-birdie-par-par-par run on holes 11-15 was enough to take a three-up lead with three holes to go.

Gurley fought back with a conceded 6-foot birdie on the 34th (16th) after Pitt holed out for bogey.

Pitt secured the win on the 35th (17th) hole with a stellar up-and-down for par from 60 yards.

"This means a lot to me," said Pitt. "Just look at those names on the trophy It will be quite an honor to have my name on that trophy too."

The event is conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association.

Final Results

John Pitt, Wilmington, NC def. Danny Gurley, Chapel Hill, NC, 2 and 1