Tyler Herriott, from Brandywine, took control on the final nine, going ahead to stay at the 12th hole, and defeated Connor Flach, of Ellicott City, 2-and-1, for the championship of the 95th Maryland Amateur at the Elkridge Club in Baltimore. At the end, Herriott, leading 1 up, holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th green to clinch the victory.
No more than two holes separated them throughout – the last of Flach’s birdies came at the eighth where he hit the green on the par-3 and made the putt for a 2-up lead — and only one after Herriott won the ninth, as Flach drove up against a fence, had to take an unplayable penalty stroke and conceded the hole.
The weather was sunny and hot, with strong swirling wind making club selection a guessing game. The results were mixed with some superb shots and clutch putts, including one from 60 feet by Flach at the fourth in the morning. However the wind helped spray shots into trees, bunkers, and water, making for an interesting match although not one of low scores..
“The wind made it very difficult,” said Herriott, 20, an Ohio University senior who plays from Old South Country Club. “You had to trust where you aimed, had to be confident, take your time and think about each shot.
“At 14 [a 300-yard par-4], for instance, I hit hybrid and that gave me the yardage where I could control a shot to the green. Stepping up to that tee and trying to drive the green puts a lot of pressure on you [because of the things that could go wrong].”
Flach, 20, a senior at Loyola University Maryland, said, “The wind was really tough. I hit some good shots early. . .” and not enough late.
Clark MacKenzie, a past Elkridge member and winner of the Maryland Amateur 50 years ago on this course, was on hand to participate in the trophy presentation at the end.
“This was no time to be making any bad mistakes,” Herriott added. “Just go out and put the ball in play. . .play it safe but aggressive.”
— Reported by John Stewart
