June 29, 2018
PINEHURST, N.C. - Former Auburn golfer Ben Schlottman won the 118th North & South Amateur with a dominating 8&7 victory against former Rice golfer Mitchell Meissner to earn the coveted Putter Boy trophy Friday at Pinehurst Resort.
"This means so much to me," Schlottman said. "To win such a prestigious event that carries with it so much history, and to do it with my parents here and following me, it's something I'll never forget."
The Advance, N.C. native opened the day with a 40-foot birdie putt on the first hole and then landed a tap-in shot out of the bunker on the second hole to take a quick 2-up lead.
Schlottman continued to pour it on as he earned a 6-hole lead after just nine holes. The former standout closed out the match just two holes later with an up-and-down par on the 11th to secure the result, 8&7.
Schlottman won all five of his rounds of match play with results over Benjamin Shipp (3&1), Gray Townsend (4&3), Kyle Suppa (1-up) and Jose Montano (1-up) before taking down Meissner in the final (8&7). He never trailed in any of the matches by more than one hole.
The former All-American was one of the final golfers to make the cut after two rounds in stroke play. He ended in a nine-way tie for 27th at 6-over (71-75--146), but advanced to match play after winning a playoff.
Schlottman sunk a 30-foot putt on his final hole of stroke play to put himself into the playoff and into contention for the prestigious title.
The Men's North & South Amateur Championship is the longest consecutively-running amateur golf championship in the United States. Over the past century, the best amateurs in the world have vied for the Putter Boy trophy. Schlottman joins notable past winners in Walter Travis, Francis Ouimet, Jack Nicklaus, Curtis Strange and Davis Love III.
Schlottman is the third Auburn golfer from the 2018 Southeastern Conference Championship squad to earn amateur titles this summer, joining Wells Padgett (Southwestern Amateur) and Jovan Rebula (British Amateur).
Schlottman's North & South Amateur
Stroke Play
T-27: 71-75--146 (+6)
Match Play
Round of 32
Def. Ben Shipp (NC State), 3&1
Round of 16
Def. Gray Townsend (SMU), 4&3
Quarterfinals
Def. Kyle Suppa (USC), 1-up
Semifinals
Def. Jose Montano (UNC), 1-up
Finals
Def. Mitchell Meissner (Rice), 8&7