Alexander Takes Prestigious Amateur Title at Azalea Invitational
Monday, March 30, 2009 | Men's Golf
University of Florida junior Tyson Alexander (Gainesville, Fla.) shot a final-round 67 on Sunday to win the prestigious Azalea Invitational amateur event by three strokes at the Country Club of Charleston.
Alexander was one of four Gators playing in the event, with all four finishing in the top-20. Alexander won with a 72-hole score of nine-under par 275. Senior Will Strickler (Charlottesville, Va.) tied for seventh at one-under par 283.
Freshman Mu Hu (Shen Zhen, China) and sophomore Bank Vongvanij (Bradenton, Fla.) tied for 17th at three-over par 287.
Alexander led wire-to-wire, opening with a three-under par 68 and firing a four-under par 67 in the second round. He shot a 73 (+2) in the third round, but finished strong to edge out defending champion Zack Sucher, who plays collegiately at UAB, by three strokes.
The clinching moment for Alexander came on the par-3 11th hole. After his tee shot found a greenside bunker, he holed a birdie from the sand to maintain his comfortable lead.
“I was just trying not to leave it in the bunker and make a big number,” said Alexander, who couldn't see the ball go in on the elevated green. “I ran up the hill and everybody was clapping. I kind of knew it was my day when stuff like that happens. Looking at a 4 and walking away with a 2 is a big deal.”
With the win, Alexander followed in the footsteps of his father, current UF head golf coach Buddy Alexander, who won the event in 1976, 12 years before Tyson was born. The Alexanders became the first father-son winners in Azalea history.
“I've got a little bragging right now,” Tyson said, after he learned that his winning score was seven shots better than his father's. “He'll be hearing about that.”
The Gators will return to collegiate action this coming weekend at the U.S. Collegiate Championship in Atlanta, their final event of the regular season. First-round action will be on Sunday, April 5 and the tournament will conclude on Tuesday, April 7. Live scoring will be available online at www.golfstat.com.
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