Louis Dobbelaar and Jackson Van Paris put on a show in the final match of the 121st North & South Amateur.
On the famed Pinehurst No. 2, the two dueled in a match that never got more than 2 up in either’s advantage and ended after one extra hole that saw the 19-year-old Australian Dobbelaar take the trophy with a clutch up-and-down for par.
“This place is extremely special to me and to my family,” Dobbelaar said of his win at Pinehurst. “It hasn’t really sunk it in yet, but there’s nothing better than winning at a place like Pinehurst. … there’s history everywhere you look.”
A large crowd was on hand for the match, with the majority pulling for Van Paris, a 17-year-old Pinehurst local bound for Vanderbilt in the fall.
“To see that many people, it was amazing,” Van Paris said of the atmosphere. “It takes you out of the moment for a bit. You get to appreciate how special this all really is.”
“Hat’s off to Louis. He never really gave me any breathing room,” Van Paris said. “I chipped in and made a 40-footer and played pretty good golf, and still didn’t beat him. It was an incredible match. He’s a great champion.”
A Pinehurst local hasn’t won the North & South since Jack Fields in 2011. Dobbelaar has won six events in the last two years.
“We’ve been mates for a little while, so it was good to soak that in together,” added Dobbelaar. “We both just looked around and said how special it was. Those situations are generally pretty tense, but playing against someone like him, we were both able to see the broader side and appreciate the opportunity to be doing this.”
Van Paris held a 2 up lead through 14 holes but lost Nos. 15 and 16 due to a few errant shots and some handiwork around the greens by Dobbelaar, who kept the match even through 18 and into the extra hole.
