Reigning British Amateur champion Garrick Porteous came from a two-hole deficit on the front nine to beat reigning U.S. Amateur champion Matt Fitzpatrick in the 17th annual Georgia Cup Match at The Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta.
Porteous, 24, a former All-SEC player at Tennessee, lost two of the first three holes to Fitzpatrick before storming back to win four consecutive holes — three of them with birdies. Porteous went on to win the match between the two English-born players 3 and 2.
Porteous was 4-up with four holes to play when Fitzpatrick extended the match by holing out for eagle from 116 yards on the 15th hole. The matched ended after both players halved the 16th hole with bogeys.
Both contestants have invitations to next week’s Masters and used this week to get ready for the fast Augusta National greens. Fitzpatrick, 19, is the No. 2-ranked amateur in the world and will remain an amateur for the time being. Porteous is ranked No. 9 and will turn pro after he plays in the Masters.
The British Amateur champion now leads the series 9-8. Former participants have included Matt Kuchar, Sergio Garcia and Matteo Mannesero.
“When you look up on the wall and see all those people who have played in this event, it was just a fantastic opportunity,” Porteous said. “The course was set up fantastically. The greens were flawless. It was great preparation for next week.”
Aaron ready for another Masters: Tommy Aaron, the 1973 Masters champion, will be back at Augusta National next week, but he will limit his competition to the Par 3 Tournament.
Aaron plans to arrive Saturday and play Sunday with a guest before the tournament begins. “I’m playing some, but I don’t enjoy the way I’m playing,” Aaron said.
Aaron, who turned 77 in February, became the oldest player to make the cut at the Masters when he did so in 2000 at age 63. His last year as a Masters competitor was 2005.
He plans to attend the champions dinner, where he’ll chat with the other past winners and settle down in a spot near colleagues such as Bob Goalby, Billy Casper and Arnold Palmer.
“That place is so special,” Aaron said. “With the great golf course and the history and the beauty of the flowers and trees … the total package. It’s very, very special.”
Georgia Four-Ball winners: Tyler Hogan and Phil Spitalny, both from Athens, won the Georgia State Golf Association's Four-Ball Tournament in Albany. The duo shot a 3-under 141 and survived a six-hole playoff with three other teams in the rain-shortened event.
Also tied at 141 were the Valdosta team of David Matthews and Doug Rayford, the McDonough team of Rick Dubois and David Maddox, and the team of Cartersville’s Chad Branton and Adairsville’s Steve Stewart. Finishing fourth were defending champions Gary Bernson of Atlanta and Scott Ressegule of Augusta.
Etc.: Georgia native Kris Blanks had shoulder surgery 14 months ago and was still trying to round back into shape when he somehow found a way to win the Web.com Tour's Louisiana Open. Blanks, 41, shot 62 on the final day and came from seven back to win. He endured a three-hole playoff to beat Brett Stegmaier. … Georgia State senior Maria Palacios birdied the first playoff hole to win the 21st John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate at Eagle's Landing Country Club. Palacios shot 2-under 214 and helped GSU finished finish second.
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