Sep. 9—Brian Quackenbush had an idea very early on that he was going to be right in the thick of the title chase at the City of Aiken Amateur Championship.
He’s been in the hunt more often than not during the tournament’s 15-year history, winning it twice and taking second on multiple occasions, so even at four shots back at the start of Sunday’s final round he had a feeling he’d be right back there again.
He started the day birdie-birdie to get to 2-under par in the penultimate group, then made six more birdies from there before ultimately finishing at 5 under for the tournament. He kept his clubs on the cart just in case he’d have to go to a playoff yet again, but they weren’t necessary.
Quackenbush’s final-round 65 was good for the title by a shot over Spencer Skiff (70), who parred his last three holes to leave Quackenbush alone in front.
“It’s cool,” Quackenbush said of his third City Amateur title, to go with the ones he won in 2021 and 2012. In all, there were six 3s on the scorecard on his way to win No. 3. “I think the field is getting stronger over time. It’s kind of like, for me, winning it now compared to the last two times, I think was more challenging and maybe a little more special.”
Skiff (70), who made five birdies and an eagle in his opening 66, reached 5 under when he birdied the par-3 fourth hole. A bogey followed on the fifth, then another at the ninth, and then he followed a birdie on 10 with a bogey on 11. His birdie on the par-4 15th got him back to 4 under, but he couldn’t find another over the final three holes. He said it was tough to shoot even-par and not leave with the trophy — it would’ve been easier to have not played well and not had a shot at it.
Quackenbush overcame a double-bogey 5 on 4, making birdies on 5 and 7 to get to 2 under. He made his charge at the turn, making four birdies on holes 10-14 to take the lead for good. A bogey on 18 kept the door ajar, but ultimately didn’t cost him when Skiff missed the green and couldn’t chip in for the tie.
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“It was tough, you know, because the wind picked up today. The course really showed its teeth,” he said. “I didn’t really have a plan, like, ‘Oh, I have to go out and shoot a ton under par.’ I was just, like, ‘I’m going to keep hitting the ball and see what happens, try to make some putts,’ and that happened early. Then I made a double bogey on 4, but then I made six more birdies, I think, throughout the round. So I just got hot, so it was nice.”
Six-time champion Patrick Cunning (71) finished alone in third at even-par. He started the day three back and then bogeyed three of his first six holes to fall farther behind. Kyle Bearden (71) was another shot back at 1 over. Scott Robbins (75) briefly held the lead after a birdie-birdie start but played the remaining 16 holes in 7 over to finish in fifth at 2 over for the weekend.
Quackenbush didn’t want to know where he stood throughout the round, so by the time he finished he wasn’t sure if his score was good enough for the win, if he’d need to stick around for a playoff or if he was still out of the picture. His fiancée Kate showed up to the course, so he chatted with her to stay loose until the final group came in.
“I mean, when I got the first two in the first two holes and it was playing difficult, Jim (McNair) had it set up super hard, and the wind was blowing. Right then, I’m thinking maybe I’m kind of in the mix,” he said. “But I don’t watch scoreboards or anything, so I didn’t get into where I’m at. I try to keep my mind away from all that. In fact, the guys I was playing with were great. Two of them asked me late in the second nine, ‘Do you want to know where you’re at?’ No. It’s not going to change how I play the next five holes.”
Quackenbush’s win took away the possibility of a Skiff double over the weekend weekend — Dan, Spencer’s father, won the senior division by two shots over Jim Boughner after a final-round 72.
Glen Hurt (76) won the Super Senior title by seven over Scott Petit. Dick Korzen (78) won the Legends championship by five over James Morrow (80), and Allie Thomas (83) won the Ladies division by six over Zoey Meldrum (85). The Inglis Cup stayed home this year, with The Aiken Golf Club’s Dan Skiff and Tom Kennaday posting a two-day total of 11-under 129 to win by five.
