Florida Azalea Amateur: Dramatic win for Suk
Winner Cyril Suk (left) and runner-up Osten Waite
PALATKA, Fla. (March 17, 2013) -- Talk about a flair for the dramatic.
Needing an eagle on the 18th hole of Sunday's final round to have a chance to force a playoff, Osten Waite holed out from 90 yards to seemingly pull off the miraculous comeback to force extra holes. Cyril Suk, however, had other plans.
Suk, a Jacksonville University freshman, buried an eight-foot birdie putt to keep his distance and clinch the tournament by one shot on a wild day at Palatka Golf Club.
The two were tied entering the final round of play, having shot 69-68 throughout the first two rounds of play. They battled throughout Sunday’s final round only to have it all come down to a miraculous finish.
Tyler Hock was alone in third place to a spectacular closing 65. One shot behind hock was Kevin Jorden.
First-round leader Logan Stauffer finished tied for 14th.
A Golfweek/amateurgolf.com rankings event, the Florida Azalea Invitational first began in 1958 as a two-man team tournament. Throughout its history, the field has included numerous players who went on to success at the game’s highest level, including Tommy Aaron, the 1973 Masters champion, and Bob Murphy, an 11-time PGA Tour winner. Peter Uihlein won the event in 2008.
The host course is a Donald Ross design dating back to 1925. It only checks in at 6,000 yards from the tips but proves to challenge the ever-improving field with its well-placed bunkers and small and fast greens.
ABOUT THE Florida Azalea
The Florida Azalea was started in 1958 as a two-man
team tourney. The field has, over the years,
boasted players who have gone on to greatness at
the professional level. Tommy Aaron, who teamed
with Dan Sykes for the 1960 Florida Azalea team
title, went on to win the 1973 Masters. And Bob
Murphy, winner of back-to-back Florida Azalea titles
while playing for the University of Florida golf team
in 1965-66, was an 11-time winner on the PGA
Tour.
The 220-man Azalea field competes in one of six
flights. The first flight is Championship, with a cut
after 36-holes. The next five flights are Net.
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