Luke Colton (Terra Cotta Invitational Photo)
Luke Colton of Frisco, Tex., won the 2024 Terra Cotta Invitational at Naples National Golf Club in Naples, Fla. After shooting rounds of 67-67-71, Colton finished 11-under and went wire-to-wire for the win. Colton did make a bogey on No. 18 to finish the tournament, but a two-shot lead heading into the par-5 No. 18 was the cushion that he needed.
Tyler Watts of Huntsville, Ala., finished in solo second place, just one shot back of Colton. Watts shot rounds of 69-69-68 and needed a birdie on the last to force a playoff, but he was only able to make par.
Watts became the youngest player ever to win the Alabama State Amateur after winning it in 2023. Colton finished in the final 32 of the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur.
Kihei Akina of Alpine, Ut., had an interesting tournament, shooting a first-round 5-over 77 and shooting a second-round 10-under 62. A final-round 4-under 68 got him to 9-under and T3 with first-round co-leader Jonathan Bale of Wales.
Bale finished T2 last year at the Terra Cotta after holding the 36-hole lead.
Billy Davis of Spring Valley, Calif., finished in solo fifth place at 7-under.
The Terra Cotta Invitational originated in 1996 and was played as a 36-hole stroke play event, with the four top finishers qualifying for 36-hole match play.
Previous winners include Justin Thomas, Matt Kuchar, Emiliano Grillo, Bud Cauley, and Peter Uihlein, as well as accomplished mid-amateurs such as two-time champion Danny Green, John Harris, Tom McKnight, Gene Elliott, Sean Knapp, Jerry Courville, Jr., and Tommy Brennan.
Previous contestants also include Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, Sean O'Hair, Daniel Berger, Bryson DeChambeau, Billy Hurley, Tim Jackson, Trip Kuehne, David Eger, Mike McCoy, Todd White, and Paul Simson.
ABOUT THE Terra Cotta Invitational
54-hole stroke play tournament with no cut.
Caddies are required. A Sponsor/Contestant
tournament is held before the event.
The Terra Cotta is an invitational. However,
they do
encourage applications and players can submit
their
golf resume for consideration.
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