Noll wins 3rd state Mid-Amateur title

EATONTON, Ga. — David Noll Jr. of Dalton won his third career Georgia Mid-Amateur championship on Sunday at Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, topping James Kiely of Milton on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.

On the 485-yard, par-4 18th, Noll got up and down for a par while Kiely bogeyed, leaving both at 4-over 214 for the 54-hole event. They then played the par-4 7th and again Noll made par while Kiely bogeyed in the first playoff at the event since 2000.

Noll first had to overcome a five-stroke deficit just to force a playoff. In Saturday’s second round, Kiely fired a 5-under 65. Noll won his first two titles in 2007 at the Country Club of Columbus and in 2012 at Berkeley Hills Country Club in Duluth.