June 23, 2018
ABERDEEN, Scotland - Auburn golfer Jovan Rebula won the 123rd British Amateur Championship with a 3&2 victory in the match play final against Ireland's Robin Dawson at the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club Saturday.
After capturing the annual tournament crown, Rebula has earned an exemption into the 2018 British Open, the 2019 Masters and the 2019 U.S. Open.
"It's unreal and really hard to describe," Rebula said of his feelings after winning the championship match. "It's an unreal feeling. It hasn't sunk in quite yet, but hopefully tomorrow morning when I wake up it's going to be a little different."
Rebula is the first South African to win the British Amateur since Bobby Cole in 1966.
The rising junior clinched the result with a short par putt on the 34th hole of the day in a 36-hole match play final to win 3&2.
In total, Rebula played nine rounds over a span of six days and emerged victorious in a field of 288.
The George, South Africa native won all seven of his rounds of match play, with results over England's Billy McKenzie (2&1) and South Africa's Malcolm Mitchell (1-up) in the first two rounds.
Rebula followed that up with wins over a trio of British golfers in Ben Hutchinson (1-up), Tom Sloman (2&1) and Mitch Waite (6&4) to get to the final match.
He advanced to match play following an even-par score (73-71--144) after two rounds of stroke play to determine seeds in which he tied for 18th.
Rebula is set to take part in the 147th British Open at Carnoustie, July 15-22. The Open is the oldest of the four majors on the PGA Tour.
Rebula's British Amateur Championship
Stroke Play
T-18: 73-71--144 (E)
Match Play
First Round
Received Bye
Second Round
Def. Billy McKenzie (England), 2&1
Third Round
Def. Malcolm Mitchell (South Africa), 1-up
Fourth Round
Def. Ben Hutchinson (England), 1-up
Quarterfinals
Def. Tom Sloman (England), 2&1
Semifinals
Def. Mitch Waite (England), 6&4
Finals
Def. Robin Dawson (Ireland), 3&2