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Atkinson Wins North Mid-Amateur in Playoff

Atkinson Wins North Mid-Amateur in Playoff

Fort Worth – Zach Atkinson won in a playoff against Brad Gibson after the final round of the 2018 North Mid-Amateur to complete his wire-to-wire victory at Diamond Oaks Country Club on Sunday.

Colleyville’s Atkinson played level golf on Sunday, making four birdies and four bogeys. He finished at 7-under overall after posting rounds of 65-68-70. The former University of North Texas golfer picked up his first win of 2018 and his third North Mid-Amateur title, winning also in 2013 and 2015.

Joining Atkinson in the playoff was his former North Texas teammate, Brad Gibson. Gibson blitzed the front nine at Diamond Oaks with five birdies. The Lewisville native played the back nine at 1-over, equaling a final round 66 and matching Atkinson’s 7-under total.
In the playoff, Atkinson and Gibson both left themselves with good look at birdie on the par-4 17th. Atkinson, playing first, ran his attempt two feet past the hole, which left Gibson an opportunity for the win from 15 feet from the fringe of the green. His putt rolled past the hole five feet before it came to rest. Needing to make a putt to continue the playoff, Gibson hit the lip of the hole and ball stayed out. Atkinson converted his two footer and the title was his.

Rounding out the top three was Will Osborne of Fort Worth, who finished third in the championship at 6-under. Osborne was part of the winning team at the North Four-Ball at Texas Star Golf Course on February 24-25.

Addison’s Chris Wheeler and Tyler’s Aaron Hickman both shot 2-under-par, 68. Wheeler’s day was highlighted by an eagle from 131 yards on the ninth hole. His 9-iron checked to two feet in front of the hole and on the last revolution of the ball dropped in the hole. Hickman, used a stretch of three birdies in a row on holes 16 through 18 to tie Wheeler.

Lewis Stephenson from Mansfield propelled up the leaderboard in the Mid-Master recognition with a back-nine score of 29. Stephenson’s final round of 3-under, 67 eclipsed Aledo’s Wayne Wright by three. Besides the Mid-Master title, Stephenson earned an exemption into the Texas Mid-Amateur on September 14-16 at River Oaks Country Club in Houston.

Diamond Oaks Country Club was designed by Charles Akey and opened in 1961. The course has hosted numerous amateur events for the Texas Golf Association as well as the USGA. Diamond Oaks stretches out to 6,800 yards and features massive oak trees throughout the Fort Worth property.

The North Regional Series will be back in action in three weeks with the North Senior Amateur at The Lakes at Castle Hills in Lewisville. Wayne Wright will look to defend his title on April 11-12.

The Texas Golf Association would like to thank the entire professional and maintenance staff of Diamond Oaks Country Club. The course provided a fair and great test to all players.

To see all the scores from the 2018 North Mid-Amateur Championship, click here. For more information on the tournament, click here.