Around the Green

SAN ANTONIO – Nick Thornton, of Boerne, wins the 2015 South Amateur Championship, presented by Club Champion, at La Cantera Golf Club – Resort Course. Thornton finished the three-day event at 7-under par 209 and one shot ahead of the field.

 

Thornton, the co-leader after the first round, came from four shots back of second round leader Michael Perras to win by one over Perras and Nicholas Cristea. Steady play by Thornton, who registered three birdies and a lone bogey in the final round, allowed for him to post a final round 2-under par 70.

 

“I made a lot of putts in the first round and that got me excited to make more birdies. I haven’t been playing too well and I am really glad that I was able to focus on what I needed to do for the win” said Thornton. 

 

Thornton, a redshirt sophomore on the Baylor Bears golf team, made 13 birdies for the three days to only six bogeys. This was his first time ever seeing the Resort Course at La Cantera Golf Club as he chose not to play a practice round.

 

Second round leader Perras, of Pasadena, wasn’t able to keep the momentum going in the final round. He registered only three birdies alongside four bogeys and a costly double on the second hole for a final round 3-over par 75. His three-day total of 6-under par 210 put him in a share for second place.

 

Houston’s Cristea posted five birdies in the final round, but three bogeys, his last coming on the par three 17th, resulted in him falling one shot short of Thornton and into the tie for second. His three-day total 69-71-70—210 placed him and Thornton as the only players to finish under par for each round.

 

Colby Harwell, of San Antonio, finished alone in fourth place after a final round 3-under par 69 and a three-day total of 4-under par 212.

 

The Texas Golf Association would like to thank Club Champion as the sponsor of South Regional events for their support, as well as La Cantera Golf Club for their efforts and hospitality in hosting this year’s championship.