AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn men's golf rising junior Carson Bacha captured his second amateur title of the summer with a 274 (-6) over the weekend at the Porter Cup hosted by Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, New York.
Bacha becomes the first Tiger to be named medalist of the Porter Cup and joins a list of past winners that includes Gary Nicklaus, Jay Sigel and Phil Mickelson.
After four rounds of play, Bacha held a share of the lead with Oklahoma sophomore Garrett Engle. Bacha made par on the first hole of a playoff to earn the tournament crown.
"I told my mom coming up 17, 'This is what I practice for,'" Bacha said. "When you're in contention, that's when the fun really begins. It was a fun day, holding my own, staying patient and waiting."
The York, Pennsylvania native shot 70-66-70-68 to clear the path to victory. Throughout the event, he matched one double bogey with an eagle and nine bogeys with 15 birdies.
Bacha's victory comes after clinching his spot in this year's U.S. Amateur with a 136 (-4) in the qualifier hosted by Clustered Springs Golf Club in Frederick, Maryland. He claimed his first victory of the summer slate with a 266 (-22) at the Dogwood Invitational in June.
Can't stop, wont stop 🏆@CarsonBacha picks up his second amateur title of the summer with a 274 (-6) at the Porter Cup! #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/isZghyegVh
— Auburn Men's Golf (@AuburnMGolf) July 16, 2022
Also heading to the U.S. Amateur next month will be rising junior J.M. Butler and rising sophomores Evan Vo and Frankie Harris.
Butler has already received exemption status for this year's event while Vo and Harris earned their way through respective qualifiers. Vo punched his ticket by winning with a 133 (-11) at Riverhill Country Club in Kerrville, Texas while Harris also finished atop his qualifier with a 136 (-8) at Lago Mar Country Club in Plantation, Florida.
Evan Vo ➡️ 2022 U.S. Am 🇺🇸
— Auburn Men's Golf (@AuburnMGolf) July 12, 2022
With a -11, he wins the qualifier at Riverhill CC to punch his ticket to the U.S. Am next month! #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/cOPrMI2Vq5
Frank the Tank! 💪
— Auburn Men's Golf (@AuburnMGolf) July 12, 2022
Another Tiger headed to the U.S Am after @_FrankieHarris wins his qualifier with a 136 (-8) at @lagomarcc!#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/9oxPF8hhED
Both rising senior Alex Vogelsong and incoming freshman Reed Lotter will attempt to qualify for the U.S. Amateur on Monday and Tuesday. Vogelsong will be playing to make his third career U.S. Am at St. Johns Golf & Country Club in St. Augustine, Florida on Monday and Tuesday while Lotter will compete in Statesboro, Georgia at the Georgia Southern University Golf Course. Upcoming junior Ryan Eshleman will vie for his spot at Seminole Legacy Golf Club in Tallahassee, Florida July 25-26.
In other news, program alum Blayne Barber continued to play well on the Korn Ferry Tour, finishing tied for ninth over the weekend at the Memorial Health Championship. Barber carded four consecutive below-par rounds, including back-to-back 7-unders, to tally a 265 (-19).
Playing on the Rolling Red Pro Golf Tour, 2021 graduate Graysen Huff also picked up a championship title, shooting 134 (10) at the Valdosta Classic.