Nick Gabrelcik was six shots behind the leader when he began his final round Saturday morning. By day’s end, he was hoisting a trophy.
Gabrelcik, a rising senior at North Florida, was stellar Saturday in the final round of the 117th Southern Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee. He shot 8-under 64, moving 23 spots up the leaderboard and capturing the title. His 64 was the best round of the week, helping him finish at 11 under par and beating North Carolina’s Dylan Menante by one shot.
“The whole week I was hitting the ball good but the first two days I just couldn’t put it all together with the putting and chipping.” Gabrelcik told Amateur Golf. “It all felt like it was coming together sooner than later. I didn’t wake up this morning thinking I was going to play how I did but it was nice it all came together now.
“I was putting the ball in play and giving myself opportunities with my iron shots and the putter was definitely the key today,” Gabrelcik added.
The tournament was shortened to 54 holes after heavy rains caused numerous delays during the first and second rounds.
The Southern Amateur is the fifth event of seven in the 2023 Elite Amateur Series. The player who earned the most points after seven events will earn a PGA Tour exemption to be announced, an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Amateur, one 2024 Korn Ferry Tour start and an exemption into final qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Open. Alabama sophomore Nick Dunlap held the top spot with 57.8349 points through the Trans-Mississippi Amateur.
Up next is the 56th Pacific Coast Amateur from July 25-28 at Capilano Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
