-- photo Duke Athletics
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. -- Austin Cody, sophomore at Duke University, fired an 18-under 270 to win the 39th Rice Planters Amateur Tournament. Cody posted rounds of 69-69-65-67 to secure a one shot victory at Snee Farm Country Club and his second tournament title of the summer.
"I was able to really limit my mistakes this week," said Cody. "I only made two bogeys the whole week and I played the final 50 holes bogey-free. I was making a lot more putts than I have been lately which got me to 18-under and allowed me to win the event."
Four shots off the lead after the first two rounds, Cody charged into the lead on Friday with a seven-under 65.
Saturday Cody posted a one-under 35 on the opening nine to fall one shot back of the lead. He came out of the turn to birdie No. 10 and No. 11 and added birdies on No. 14 and No. 16 to take a two stroke lead with two holes remaining. Cody parred out to secure the win as Ryan Heisey of UNC Greensboro and Rafael Becker of Witchita State tied for second at 17-under (271). Heisey had the low round of the tournament with a final round of 63.
Cody, a North Charleston, S.C., native, also won the Santee Amateur earlier this month.
"The year of college golf has really helped me mature with my game," Cody added. "I have been putting in a lot of work and I am hoping everything will pay off this summer. This week has been great for my confidence and I can't wait to get back at it next week at the Dogwood Amateur."
Thanks go to Duke University Athletics for their contribution to this story.
ABOUT THE
Rice Planters Amateur
The Rice Planters Amateur was the inspiration of
amateur golfer, Dick Horne. During his first Porter
Cup
at the Niagara Falls Country Club in 1973, Horne
befriended the tournament's chairman Dick Harvey.
Harvey encouraged a receptive Horne to develop his
own southern tournament and, consequently, along
with other Porter Cup officials, shared enough useful
information to get Horne started in the South. The
Rice Planters quickly grew to become one of the top
amateur events in the country.
FORMAT AND ENTRY
INFORMATION
The Rice Planters is played over
54 holes of stroke play. While
entries are
by invitation only, the tournament typically
holds a 90-player qualifier for the final five spots in
the
field.
View Complete Tournament Information