PINEHURST, N.C. – Tyler Strafaci, a Florida Junior Tour alumni and past Boys’ Junior champion, captured the biggest amateur title of his career on Sunday. The Georgia Tech University senior won the 120th North and South Amateur Championship, defeating William Holcomb V, 3 and 1, in the championship match at Pinehurst Resort.
With his father on the bag, Strafaci raised the coveted Putter Boy trophy, a trophy that his grandfather, Frank, raised in 1938 and 1939. The two become the only grandfather/grandson duo to win the North and South Amateur, while Strafaci is the first FJT alum to win the prestigious event.
On trips to Pinehurst as a child, Strafaci recalls his parents telling him about his grandfather, who died 10 years before his grandson was born, and his love for the place where he won two North and South Amateurs.
“I never thought that this day would ever come,” Strafaci said after his win on Sunday.
With the championship match tied through seven holes at Pinehurst’s No. 2 course, Strafaci made an unlikely birdie on the par-4 eighth hole to take his first lead of the day. Holcomb birdied the 11th hole to tie the match back up.
Strafaci quickly took back the lead with a par in the 13th hole. The Davie native added another birdie on the 14th to extend his lead to 2 up. He clinched the win on the 17th hole with another birdie.
After 122 holes, two rounds and five matches over five days, it was Strafaci who was left standing at Pinehurst.
Just like his grandpa was 81 years ago.
“This place has such an unbelievable special history and feeling for me and my family,” Strafaci’s father, a past FSGA president, said after the win, holding back tears. “And my dad, this is just so special.”
Quotes and information via Pinehurst Resort
