Lucas Politano rolls to second title in three years at 120th Vermont Amateur
· Yahoo Sports
Lucas Politano seized control of the 120th Vermont Amateur during a roaring finish to his second round. He then dusted the field over the final 18 holes on Thursday, July 9.
The former Otter Valley Union High School star fired a tournament-low 5-under 65 to close out his second Vermont Amateur title in three years, pulling away for a commanding 12-shot victory at Ekwanok Country Club.
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Two years removed from emerging from a four-person playoff as the tournament's youngest champion since 1999, Politano buried six birdies, including four on the back nine, to cruise to the state crown. Alex Leonard, the Day 1 leader, finished third at 4-over.
Walker Allen, who carded rounds of 69 and 68 during Thursday's 36-hole finale, rose for a tie for third with Austin Giroux at 5-over. Luke Russell, Garren Poirier and Evan Russell forged a three-way tie for fifth at 8-over.
But the week belonged to Politano, a standout golfer at Rutgers University. After shooting even par 70 in his opening round on July 7, Politano zoomed to the top of the leaderboard with four birdies over the final six holes for a 66 second round. Politano fired a 1-over 71 in his third round, but maintained a three-shot advantage over Leonard entering the final 18 holes.
In his final round, Politano's 65 included six birdies, 11 pars and just one bogey (at No. 17).
Vermont Amateur leaderboard (final)
Thursday, July 8 (through four rounds)
At Ekwanok Country Club
Par 70
Lucas Politano (Ralph Myhre) ... 70-66-71-65—272
Alex Leonard (Lakeside) ... 69-68-73-74—284
Walker Allen (Neshobe) ... 76-72-69-68—285
Austin Giroux (Newport) ... 70-73-70-72—285
Luke Russell (Stowe) ... 71-71-71-75—288
Garren Poirier (Rutland) ... 72-68-71-77—288
Evan Russell (VT National) ... 71-69-74-74—288
William Mallia (Ekwanok) ... 74-69-76-71—290
Mathew Smith (Manchester) ... 75-74-75-69—292
Troy Goliber (VT National) ... 76-69-73-74—292
Brooks Thompson (Ekwanok) ... 75-75-76-68—294
Stephen Goodridge (Brattleboro) ... 72-70-78-75—295
Cory Jozefiak (Lakeside) ... 78-74-70-74—296
Nick Ojala (Proctor-Pittsford) ... 75-74-76-71—296
Bryan Smith (Burlington) ... 72-74-74-76—296
Ryan Porter (802 Golf Academy) ... 77-67-75-78—297
Cody Semmelrock (Williston) ... 76-77-73-72—298
Taylor Bellemare (Ekwanok) ... 72-72-76-77—298
Peter Reilly (Quechee) ... 75-69-74-80—298
Michael Walsh (Burlington) ... 75-71-72-81—299
Sebastian Pell (Rutland) ... 75-73-76-76—300
Patrick Saxe (Ekwanok) ... 76-76-73-76—301
Gavin Letourneau (West Bolton) ... 76-76-73-77—301
Jay Zanleoni (Quechee) ... 72-75-74-80—301
Reece de Castro (Rutland) ... 74-78-74-76—302
Brody Yates (Kwiniaska) ... 76-75-77-74—302
Travis Russell (Lakeside) ... 76-73-79-75—303
Brady Fallon (Ralph Myhre) ... 75-75-74-81—305
Nathan Benoit (Champlain) ... 75-76-80-75—306
Ryan Kohler (Brattleboro) ... 74-77-77-79—307
Paul Romano (VT National) ... 77-76-79-76—308
Luke Gronbeck (Lakeside) ... 75-77-79-78—309
Cooper Guerriere (Kwiniaska) ... 75-78-78-79—310
Eric Gerdes (Barre) ... 79-72-80-79—310
Jackson Fellis (Stowe) ... 75-76-77-82—310
Evan Forrest (Burlington) ... 78-75-78-80—311
Tyler Parker (Copley) ... 75-76-77-84—312
Brett Roland (Ekwanok) ... 78-72-84-78—312
Sean Keogh (Lakeside) ... 77-76-84-—321
Ryan Nappi (Equinox) ... 76-77-87-82—322
Contact Alex Abrami at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Lucas Politano rolls to second title in three years at 120th Vermont Amateur