Macon —- The scene at the 18th green was one Russell Henley had dreamed a thousand times. All he needed to do was two-putt from 20 feet to win the 87th Georgia Amateur and listen to the cheers of the large crowd at the Idle Hour Club that had come to watch one of their own win the state's biggest prize.

Henley obliged, finishing with a final-round 69, which gave him a record score of 270 to beat best friend and defending champion Harris English by one shot. After exchanging handshakes and hugs, Henley couldn't help but raise his club with a victory thrust as he walked to the scoring area.

"I always wanted to tap in with everybody out here watching," Henley said. "Fans, friends, family ... what more could you ask for."

English closed with a 70 and finished at 271, barely missing the chance to become the first back-to-back winner since 1994. David Noll Jr., the 2003 champion, shot a 69 —- he and Henley were the only players with four rounds in the 60s —- but was not able to drop a putt when it mattered.

Henley lived up to his reputation as the ultimate grinder. Down four shots to fellow Georgia sophomore English after eight holes, he patiently stuck to his game plan and gradually battled back. A pair of long, unexpected birdie putts kept him in the game, but he didn't take the lead until English made his only bad shot of the day.

"I had to do something, didn't I?" Henley said. "The only thing I could do was be patient."

With his lead down to one stroke on the 15th hole, English sliced his second shot on the long par-5 out of bounds —- then had to wait out a two-hour rain delay. English wound up with a double-bogey, and Henley walked to the 16th tee with a one-shot lead.

"That's how golf is," English said. "I played a good round, other than that. I just got outplayed."

Henley then matched English par-for-par on the final three tough holes, each time fist-pounding his brother/caddie Adam. Somehow, he found a way to keep his emotions in check long enough to complete the task.

"It was time to step up and put myself in position to win," Henley said. "I knew if I played solid I'd have a chance. I knew chances were good that [English] wasn't going to mess up."

Finishing tied for fourth at 279 were Augusta State coach Josh Gregory and second-round leader Jeff Knox, who both closed with 72s.

Dave Womack of McDonough and Jay Moseley of Bainbridge tied for sixth, with Moseley posting a 65, the low score of the day.