The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
07.18.2015 | Men's Golf
Texas rising sophomore Taylor Funk shot a 273 to win the event.
WEST POINT, Miss. – Rising sophomore Taylor Funk won the Southern Amateur Championship on Saturday at the Old Waverly Golf Club on Saturday.
Justin Leonard was the last Longhorn to win the event in 1993. Ben Crenshaw won in 1973 and Mark Brooks won in 1981.
Charging from behind on the incoming nine, Funk won the 109th Southern Amateur Saturday at Old Waverly Club. In and out of the lead most of the day, Funk, son of Tour veteran Fred Funk made a key birdie on the 15th hole when he lashed out of the rough to within one foot of the cup.
That gave him a 2-stroke lead over three pursuers.
"I felt it was mine to lose at that point," said Funk, who played the dangerous 18th hole cautiously for a bogey 5 to close out the victory.
"My dad won 17 times on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, and he told me last night it was all about composure," said Funk, whose closing 69 gave him an 11-under-par 273 total. Finishing one shot back were Taylor Hancock of Clearwater, FL, and Ben Suarez of Sulphur, LA.
Pre-tournament favorite Bryson Chambeau, the newly crowned NCAA champ and No. 2-ranked am in the world, made a run, but closed with a 68 to finish two shots back.
Texas rising senior Taylor Termeer also had a strong showing at the event, shooting 71, 70, 74, 70 to finish 1-under.
Final Leaders, 109th Southern Amateur
Old Waverly Club, Par 71, 7,088 yards
Taylor Funk, Ponte Vedra FL.............60-65-69-69--273
Taylor Hancock, Clearwater FL..........70-69-68-67--274
Ben Suarez, Sulpher LA....................71-66-68-69--274
Matt NeSmith, N. Augusta SC...........69-71-66-69--275
Bryson DeChambeau, Clovis CA........72-68-67-68--275
Will Starke, Chapin SC.....................72-66-70-68--276
Jarryd Felton, Perth, Aus..................68-67-68-73--276
TEXAS JUNIOR TAYLOR FUNK
On how he has been playing: I have been playing well recently, even in the last tournament I played in even though I missed the cut. But it all came together this week and I'm just continuing to play.
On winning the event: This is the 109th tournament and a there are bunch of great names, and great history. It means a lot. It was a great field with 170 players and coming out on top and adding my name to the list means a lot.
HEAD COACH JOHN FIELDS
On Funk's win: Pearl and I are thrilled with Taylor's victory at the Southern Amateur. Taylor follows in the footsteps of Justin Leonard, our last Longhorn Southern Amateur Champion. This victory is outstanding, as one it is one of the top amateur tournaments in our country and a great field of competitors.
