Whitehead captures TGA South Amateur title

Michael Whitehead of Sugar Land rallied from a six-shot deficit at the start of the day to beat Rodney Thompson and Robert McKinney to capture the 2007 Texas Golf Association South Region Amateur, concluded Sunday at Magnolia Creek Golf Club in League City.

Whitehead, an 18-year-old who is home schooled, shot a six-under par 66, the low round of the tournament, to earn the three-shot victory. His 54-hole total of 210 beat out McKinney. Thompson struggled to a final round 77 to finish fourth at 215.

With the victory Whitehead earned an exemption into this year's Texas State Amateur, which will be played June 7-10 at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity.

Whitehead, who plans to enroll at Rice University and play on the golf team this fall, caught an early break with a chip in birdie on the fourth hole, then followed with birdies on both front nine par fives. He added a fourth birdie at the ninth hole for a 32 (four-under par) on the front nine.

Asked when he knew he was leading, Whitehead replied, “When I got finished someone told me. I had no idea. I figured Rodney was eight or nine under.”

He added a birdie on the par three 13th. But after bogeying No. 15, Whitehead, thought he needed to make something happen to have a chance. He did just that with an eagle on the short par four 17th when he holed out from a green side bunker after trying to drive the green.

Whitehead opened the three-day tournament with a one-under par 71, but lost that shot with a second round 73, leaving him at level par heading into the final round. He birdied three holes on the front side, but gave back two shots on the back nine.