Amateurs summit the leaderboard at Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational
Harris English, playing as an amateur at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational, has now become the third amateur ever to post a victory on the Nationwide Tour on Sunday, July 24.
English carded a final round of one-under, 70 to amass an aggregate of 14-under to win his first professional title of the career. He is the second amateur player to win on the tour in the current season and has given some hope to the deteriorating American
presence in the sport.
“That's really what you dream about growing up. You want to put yourself in those positions to win. This is what you spend hours and hours practicing for as a little kid,” said English. “When I saw the ball disappear it was the greatest feeling in the world.
It's pretty unbelievable.”
English opened his final round with a one-shot deficit, trailing John Peterson of LSU, who dominated the event on all three days over the weekend. The duo remained in contention till the last hole in the evening and exchanged the lead several times during
their battle for the summit.
Peterson hit a dreadful approach on the 18th to land in thick rough and bogeyed his way to the clubhouse. English took advantage of Peterson’s loss and birdied the 18th to avoid a Playoff and be the outright winner on the event. The
young Georgian carded three birdies and dropped three shots en route to his maiden victory on Nationwide Tour.
Peterson, also playing on amateur status, had to share the second spot alongside much established Kylie Reifers with an aggregate of 13-under. Reifers posted a more solid performance on the final day, pulling in a round of three-under, 68 and will be snatching
a lion’s share of both the prize money for the winner as well as a runner-up, as Peterson and English do not qualify to bag the prize money.
This booty of $144,000 will effectively catapult Reifers from number 52nd to number five on the Money List and he will have a bright chance of getting a berth at the PGA Tour next year.
“I thought 14 was the number today,” said Reifers. “The money is a big part because of what it might mean as far as next year.”
The amateur performance on Nationwide Tour has been a much needed relief for the American fans of the sport.
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