Calve Repeats Title; Wins 90th Public Links Championship
WEST ORANGE, N.J. – Ricky Calve captured the 90th Public Links Championship at Francis A. Byrne Golf Course in dramatic fashion on August 15. Calve carded a 4-under par, 136 over the 36-hole championship and defeated Ethan Lee in a playoff to win back-to-back titles.
“It feels good. It’s good to know that I can come in here and get it done under pressure and still play my game,” said Calve.
In the morning round, Calve shot an impressive 6-under par 64. Calve, 21, recorded seven birdies in round one including back-to-back birdies on holes 14 and 15 to finish strong.
“I just hit a lot of shots really close. I didn’t make a lot of putts, maybe one twenty-footer, but I made all of the ones I was supposed to make,” said Calve. “The second round I kind of did the same thing but I missed all of the putts I was supposed to make.”
Chasing Calve down the stretch, Lee made eagle on the par-five 18th hole while Calve bogeyed his 17th hole to send the pair of friends into a sudden-death hole-by-hole playoff. Lee chipped in from off the front of the green for eagle to put the pressure on Calve.
“My 17th hole was drivable but I thought all I had to do was make par. Right after I laid up, that’s when I saw that my friend Ethan Lee made eagle on 18,” said Calve. “I know I only had to hit it up on the green and two-putt but I ended up making bogey.”
On the first playoff hole, Calve and Lee both found the left rough just a few feet from each other off the tee. Each player stuck their approach to about seven feet. Lee would make par while Calve sunk his birdie putt to reclaim the title.
“I mean Ethan is one of my best friends ever. I always knew it was going to happen one of these days,” said Calve. “I would’ve never heard the end of it if I lost that playoff so it feels good to win that one. I’m sure he’ll get me one of these playoffs.”
Paolo Matti finished third at 1-under par 139.
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