Steve Paterson (left) and Chris Hartenstein (right) posted five under par totals for 36 holes to tie for the lead in the Central Texas Amateur. Both are members at Great Hills Country Club and play golf together on a regular basis.
In the ensuing playoff, they made regulation pars on the first two holes. On the third hole, a dogleg right par five, Hartenstein hit the fairway while Paterson hit his tee shot into a bunker at the dogleg. After Hartenstein advanced his ball to about 80 yards short of the green in the fairway, Paterson elected to go for the green. From about 220 yards he selected a three iron and played from a flat lie in the bunker.
Having missed this green to the left in regulation play, Paterson played a cut shot that faded a bit too much and missed the green to the right. Fortunately he drew a decent lie with a good angle to pitch the ball to the hole. Hartenstein played his third shot to about 20 feet short of the hole.
Paterson then hit this pitch shot to within 10 feet of the cup. Hartenstein missed and Paterson rolled in his putt for the victory. This marks the second Central Texas Amateur Title for Paterson. He also won in 2006.
In close pursuit of the leaders, Barrett Sandefur and Mike Allen finished at three under par totals of 139. Another shot back were Nick Maynard and Cameron Button at 140, two under par.
See the full field results here.
Robert Evans, Chris Hartenstein and Mike Allen shot 68 in the second round to tie for low round of the day. The low round of the tournament was 65, a tournament record, and was recorded in the first round by Cory Brown.
A record number of players finished under par for the tournament, due to softer conditions and playing a few holes from the front of the tee boxes. Normally played as a par 72, the course was played as a par 71 because of the flooding from recent heavy rains. Number nine, a dogleg left over a creek was partially under water and unplayable.
The staff at Forrest Creek decided to play the ninth hole as a pitch and putt par three and moved the tee box up by the green, leaving players with a 30-40 yard pitch. The adjustments to the course were appreciated by the players and they were glad the tournament proceeded as planned. The fairways and greens were in excellent condition.
