WINNIPEG, Canada (August 7, 2014) — James Beale, a former Mercer University golfer, will get his shot at the United States Amateur Championship after winning Canada’s version on Thursday. The native of New Zealand shot a final-round 69 to force a three-way playoff at the Canadian Amateur, making birdie on the third hole to capture victory.
Not only will Beale earn an automatic entry to the U.S. Amateur on August 11 at Atlanta Athletic Club, but he’ll get an exemption to play in next year’s RBC Canadian Open, part of the regular PGA TOUR schedule.
Beale trailed the third-round leader Corey Conners, Canada’s top-ranked amateur player, by three shots heading into Thursday’s final round, but Conners faltered on the back nine. He shot a three-over 38 on his final nine holes to miss being part of the playoff by a single stroke.
Canada did have a shot to capture their nation’s most prestigious amateur title as Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ontario shot the lowest round of the day, 66, to catapult himself into the playoff, which also included second-round co-leader Jonathan Garrick, a Northern California native who plays collegiately for UCLA.
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