Utah’s Zac Blair captures the PNGA Men’s Amateur crown

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Updated: August 1, 2011

Zac Blair (#36 seed) of Ogden, Utah capped off a great week with a 5&4 victory over Tyler Raber (#15 seed) of El Macero, Calif. in the 36-hole Championship Match at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend.

Blair only trailed in the match for 1 hole and it was after No. 1 when he left his approach shot in the bunker and was unable to get it out on the first attempt resulting in a bogey. Both players birdied the par-5 No. 2 hole and then Blair was able to bring the match back to all square after making a par on the par-3 No. 3 hole.

The next five holes were halved and then Blair made his move with a winning par on hole No. 9 and a 12-foot curling birdie putt that fell in on the 10th hole, giving him a 2-up advantage. Holes No. 11-15 were halved before Blair made a great up-and-down birdie from the deep greenside bunker on the shortened par-4 16th hole to go 3-up. Raber answered with a birdie win on the 17th hole, but Blair won the final two holes of the morning 18 with pars to take a commanding 4-up advantage.