Bandon Dunes Resort plays host to USGA Public Links tournaments

Corbin Mills parred the first extra7 playoff hole to defeat Derek Ernst in 37 holes to win the 2011 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship contested at 7,016-yard, par-71 Old Macdonald at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Mills, 21, of Easley, S.C., became the first qualifying medalist to win the APL since fellow Clemson Tiger D.J. Trahan claimed the title in 2000, also in 37 holes at Heron Lakes in Portland, Ore., five hours north of Bandon Dunes. Interestingly, the medalist has gone on to win the championship four out of five times the APL has been held in Oregon.

Despite winds that gusted up to 25 miles per hour, Saturday’s 36-hole finale featured an abundance of birdies by both players – and very few halved holes. Mills and Ernst combined to win 27 of the 37 holes contested.

University of Washington golfers Charlie Hughes and Chris Williams both made it through qualifying but both lost out in match play.

In the women’s division, also held at Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes, Brianna Do only led for three holes. Luckily for her, she led the one that counted most.

Do, 21, of Vietnam won the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, defeating Marissa Dodd, 17, of Allen, Texas, 1 up, in the 36-hole championship match, which was conducted at the 6,098-yard, par-71 Old Macdonald layout at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

In victory, Do became the second UCLA player in three years to win the Women’s Amateur Public Links, joining Tiffany Joh, who won the title in 2006 and 2008. Mary Enright, also a former UCLA player, won the title in 1981.