Keepin' it Reale at the West Virginia Amateur
Courtesy of WVGA
Philip Reale of Hurricane, W. Va. won the 102nd West Virginia Amateur Champion on Wednesday at The Greenbrier.
Reale, who finished second in this event in 2019, entered the final round clinging to a one-stroke lead over Morgantown's
Chris Williams, but ran away from the field when he birdied six of his last 13 holes en route to a closing 65 and a nine-stroke victory.
At 10-under 270, the former East Carolina standout was nine strokes clear of
Hutson Chandler of Bridgeport, who birdied three of his last seven holes to secure solo runner-up finish. Williams, who began the day in second place, finished third at even par 280 after a final round 72.
Reale, the 2019 West Virginia Golf Association's Player of the Year, moved to the top of the leaderboard after firing a third round 65 on The Greenbrier's Meadows Course on Tuesday. An eagle on the par-5 fourth followed by birdies on the seventh, eighth, 10th and 13th holes offset his lone bogey of the day on No. 12.
Williams overcame a poor start and was 5-over through the first four holes but righted the ship by making six birdies and an eagle over his last 12 holes to move into second place, just one off the lead.
“Winning the tournament was unbelievable,” said Reale, whose younger brother Philip won the state amateur in 2007. “It still hadn’t quite set in. It’s awesome to be able to so this in front of the family; just awesome.”
The West Virginia Golf Association contributed to this report
ABOUT THE
West Virginia Amateur
Must be a WVGA member, players who are not
exempt
must qualify at one of the six qualifying locations in
May. Format is 72-holes of stroke play championship
with the field cut to the low 48 players and ties at
the
completion of 36 holes.
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