NEWTON TAKES UNITED STATES MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Scott Newton of Port St. Lucie, Florida, captured the second annual United States Match Play Championship at Indian Hills Golf Course in Fort Pierce, Florida, defeating Landon Bompensa 2-up in the championship match. Newton’s first-place check of $5,000 is the largest he’s earned so far in his professional career. Bompensa took home $1,000 as the runner-up. Bompensa was in control for most of the front nine, taking a 1-up lead into the back nine. Newton then proceeded to win holes 10-13 to go up by 3, but Bompensa wouldn’t lay down. He won the next three holes to square to match on the strength of a Newton tee shot that went out of bounds on 14 and by birdieing 15 and 16. Newton then hit his tee shot on the 140-yard par-4 17th to four feet in making birdie to go back up by 1, and Bompensa conceded Newton’s birdie putt on 18 when his own birdie attempt failed to go in. The United States Match Play Championship (a USGTF sponsored event) is open to all professional and amateur golfers, and is the only match play national match play event open to everyone. The 2014 event is scheduled for Indian Hills at a date to be determined.