Hunter Shattuck
(TXGA Photo)

Hunter Shattuck, of Jacksonville, began his day with what he called an unbelievable par save from near the practice area on the left of the first hole. That par there got him on a hot streak of which he made three straight birdies to get to 11-under-par for the championship. Shattuck was the outright leader at that point because 36-hole leader Devin Jackson found the hazard right on the first.

Jackson though, bounced right back with back to back birdies to bring him level par for the round. Aaron Hickman, Tyler, birdied the second hole as well to bring him at the time just one back of Shattuck.

The first sign of trouble came on the par three, fifth hole when Hunter’s bogey brought him back to ten- under-par. Shattuck would go on to bogey the seventh as well as the ninth bringing him back to even par for the day and eight-under for the championship.

Making move in the group before Shattuck was Justin’s Brandon Scott. Brandon had recorded seven straight pars before he poured in two birdies on the eighth and ninth to bring him to seven-under-par and just one shot back through nine.

Brandon continued his run of steady golf for six more holes at even par before he took advantage of the 190 yard, par-three, 16th. He backed up that birdie with one more on the 17th to get him to nine-under for the tournament.

Hunter though, seeing what was happening in front of him, matched Brandon shot for shot with birdies on holes 16 and 17 himself to maintain his one up lead.

Brandon knew he had to make birdie on the last when his approach landed on the front left portion of the green to the middle right hole location. Scott’s birdie putt looked as though it fall down the slope and creep closer to hole, stayed at crest, making a difficult next putt. Brandon’s par attempt slide by low and his lone bogey of the day came on the 18th.

Shattuck, unaware of where Scott stood, stuck his approach on the 18th to 20 feet past the hole on the back left part of the green. Needing just a two putt to lock up the title, Hunter’s birdie attempt teased the hole and left him with just a foot. He banged it in to claim the 2016 North Amateur Championship.

When asked how his round went, Shattuck mentioned it was a grind. “Three straight birdies after an unbelievable par save. Then to give them all back before [the turn].”

Shattuck went on to mention how hoped his momentum from winning this tournament would help him in the upcoming U.S. Amateur tournament at Oakland Hills Country Club next week.

Finishing in third place with a three day total of 209, was Longview’s Bryce Alley. Bryce would go on to tie for the low round of the day with a four-under-par, 68.

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