JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — It came down to the final hole and Stan Gann Jr. defeated Kane Whitehurst to win the Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship. The 98th edition of this event was played at Rivermont Golf Club, October 6-9.
After going all square thru the first 3 holes, Whitehurst took the first lead with a birdie on hole number four. Gann would find his rhythm on the green and rattled off three birdies in the next five holes. At the turn Gann had the momentum and was 2 up.
Whitehurst won the 11th hole to cut the lead to 1 up but Gann would once again get his putter going with birdies on the 13th and 14th hole to extends his lead to the largest margin of the day at 3 up.
With his back against the wall, Whitehusrt made a furious charge with an eagle on 15 followed up by birdies on 16 and 17 to make the match all square going into the 18th hole.
On the 18th hole, Whitehurst hit the ball in the water and eventually conceded the hole giving Stan Gann Jr. a 1 up victory.
How they reached the final:
Whitehurst earned wins over Brad Hondros of Atlanta in the round of 32 (2 and 1), Jeff Belk of Marietta in the round of 16 (4 and 3), David Noll, Jr., of Dalton in the quarterfinals (5 and 3) and in the semifinals over Chris Waters of Atlanta (3 and 2).
Gann reached the finals by defeating Miles Lathem of Canton, 5 and 4, in the round of 32 and then Brock Healy of Peachtree Corners, 5 and 3, in the round of 16. He continued on Saturday with wins over David Noto of Clarkesville in the quarterfinals (2 and 1) and over Bob Royak of Alpharetta in the semifinals (2 and 1).