ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Auburn men’s golf sophomore Cayden Pope captured his first amateur tournament title Saturday, going 13-under-par to win the 99th annual New Year’s Invitational at St. Petersburg Country Club by six strokes.
Pope dominated the 90-man field with scorecards that consisted of a pair of 68s and a 67 in Saturday’s final. On the week, he matched five bogeys with 15 birdies and one eagle. In Saturday’s 18, he bogeyed just once, on 11, and picked up birdies on 2, 3, 13, 15 and 16 before sealing the win with one more on the 18th and final hole.
Tigers assistant coach and St. Petersburg native Buddy Alexander is a six-time NYI champion, winning in 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1987 and 1991.
Auburn golf returns to action soon as it kicks off the spring season February 6-8 at the Amer Ari Invitational at Mauna Lani Golf Club in Waikoloa, Hawai’i.