RAZORBACKS’ BUHL laments late shot.
William Buhl said he knew he was in the hunt as he stalked off the par-5 16th hole during the final round of the 113th Southern Amateur Championship at Chenal Country Club’s Founders Course in Little Rock.
Buhl’s birdie on 16, his fourth in five holes on the back nine, moved the University of Arkansas golfer into a tie for second place, two shots out of the lead.
Next for Buhl was the 205-yard par-3 17th, playing as the most difficult hole on the course Saturday with its back-right pin placement and lengthy carry over water.
Buhl, not totally comfortable with the left-to-right wind gusts, hit a 6-iron, and he knew it was bad as soon as he made contact.
“I thought it was the right club,” he said, “then I hit the worst golf shot I’ve hit all week. Off the toe. It didn’t have a chance.”
Buhl’s ball landed in the water. He ended up with a triple-bogey 6, and his dreams of winning the tournament were gone.
“I knew I was there,” Buhl said. “That one will haunt me for a little bit. It really hurts.”
What made it more difficult for Buhl was that he birdied the 491-yard, par4 18th, a birdie that might have put him in the suddendeath playoff with AJ Ott and Noah Woolsey if he had simply parred No. 17.
“Exactly where I wanted to be,” Buhl said. “Then one bad swing. I hadn’t had it all week. Sadly, it had to come on the 17th hole today.
“Sometimes you’ve got to step up and hit the shot, and I just didn’t. That’s golf.”
Buhl finished in a five-way tie for seventh place, and he was the only player with an Arkansas connection to finish the tournament under par.
Former Baylor golfer Garrett May of Hope finished tied for 27th at even-par 284 after closing with a 2-over 73.
Fayetteville’s Luke Long (Houston) shot a final-round 75 to finish tied for 35th at 2-over 286.
Behind May and Long were Buhl’s Arkansas teammates Tyson Reeder (6over 290) and Julian Perico (7-over 291). Reeder came in tied for 50th, and Perico tied for 56th.