Knox wins Georgia Amateur

Savannah -- Lee Knox gave a clue that something good was on the verge of happening a month ago when he won the club championship at Augusta Country Club. On Sunday it got even better, as Knox overcame a two-shot deficit and an hour-long rain delay to win the 89th Georgia Amateur at The Landings.

Knox, a sophomore at the University of Alabama, shot a 69 on Sunday at the Deer Creek course to finish at 5-under 283 and beat fellow Augusta Country Club member and longtime junior golf rival Chase Parker by one shot. Parker, a sophomore at the University of Kentucky, shot a competitive course record of 65 and finished at 284.

"To win this is unbelievable," Knox said. "This gives me a great bit of confidence."

Knox played in the next-to-last group alongside his father, Jeff Knox, 47, who has won two Georgia Mid-Amateur championships and has been runner-up in the Georgia Amateur on three occasions. Jeff Knox finished tied for 11th and was pleased to have a front-row seat for his son's victory.

"It's something a dad dreams about," Jeff said, his voice cracking with emotion. "He makes me proud to be his dad. He deserves it."

Lee Knox thought he had a two-shot lead as he began the final hole. The news of Parker's record round had not reached the course.

But the situation became tense when a thunderstorm blew through the area and caused officials to stop play. Knox was waiting to hit his approach shot to the par-5 final hole and could only bite his glove when the horn sounded.

"That definitely made me think more," Knox said. "It made me more nervous, but it was just a little pitch shot."

During the break, Knox learned that Parker had cut the lead to one shot. It didn't seem to matter. Knox hit his wedge on the green and two-putted from 25 feet to secure the victory.

"To win this with (his father) by my side is something special," Knox said. "I can't believe I won this before he did."

It didn't come easy. Knox started the day trying to catch favorite son Doug Hanzel, a member at The Landings. Hanzel had the support of his fellow club members, who were out in force in their personal golf carts.

The turning point came on the sixth hole; Hanzel had some tree issues and wound up with a double-bogey and Knox made a birdie to take the lead, which he shared but never relinquished.