High school golfer Zach Healy of Norcross defeated four-time champion David Noll of Dalton on the first playoff hole to win the Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship at Rivermont G&CC.
Healy, who was 2-down after two holes after Noll started birdie-birdie, won his first hole with an eagle on the short, par-4 11th. Healy twice took 1-up leads after birdies at 14 and 16, but Noll won the next hole each time to pull even and send the match to extra holes. Healy parred the difficult first hole to quickly end the playoff.
After winning his first two matches by scores of 3&2 and 8&6, Healy got past qualifying co-medalist Brad Hondros of Atlanta 1-up in the quarterfinals. Healy reached the finals with a 2-up win over Georgia Tech golf team member Michael Hines of Woodstock in the semis. Healy shot 69 in stroke play qualifying and was seeded 7th in the 32-player field.
Noll won his opening match 1-up against Savannah’s Danny Nelson before needing 23 holes to get past Mitch Kim of Norcross in the second round. He defeated Sea Island’s Jack Hall 3&2 in the quarterfinals and Jerry McFadden of Johns Creek 3&1 in the semis.
Hopper takes PubLinks: Eatonton’s John Hopper took the GSGA Public Links Championship, shooting a final round 68 at Legacy on Lanier to win by seven strokes with a 3-under 141 total. Hopper also won last year’s Public Links Championship at Cobblestone GC.
Hopper trailed first round leader Beau Minkley of Atlanta by one shot after an opening 73, but took control of the tournament when he birdied five of his first eight holes in the second round.
Todd Eaker of Lawrenceville was 2nd at 148, shooting 75 in the second round with an 8 on the par-4 fourth hole. Jackson Bishop of Gainesville was 3rd at 149 and Minkley tied for 4th at 150 with scores of 72-78.