DALLAS — American golfer Hamilton Coleman made a 15-foot birdie putt on the 35th hole to hold on for a 2-and-1 victory Saturday over Minh Nguyen of Vietnam in the U.S. Junior Amateur.
The victory sends the 17-year-old Coleman — who’s from Augusta, Georgia, the home of the Masters — to the U.S. Open next year at Shinnecock Hills on New York’s Long Island.
Coleman, who plans to play college golf at Georgia, never trailed in the 36-hole match at Trinity Forest. It still nearly went the distance because of the relentless play of Nguyen, who has committed to play at Oregon State.
Coleman went 5 up through 12 holes in the morning 18, only for Nguyen to win three of the next four holes. Coleman took a 3-up lead into the afternoon and was 4 up with 11 holes to play when Nguyen again rallied.
“I knew I couldn’t ease my way into winning. I had to keep hitting quality shots,” Coleman said. “It got a little tight there, but I never lost faith. I told my caddie I was nervous but not scared. I was proud of that.”