England’s Jack Bigham beat Italy’s Riccardo Fantinelli on the first extra hole of the scheduled 36-hole final to win the 94th R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship on Sunday at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal, England.
Bigham had seized an early lead in the final, but Fantinelli battled back and the morning 18 ended with a tie. Neither player could gain a large lead in the afternoon’s back and forth, and Bigham birdied the 36th to send it to the playoff.
Fantinelli topped his tee shot on the first hole of the playoff, and Bigham made par to win the championship. Bigham also was the leader in stroke-play qualifying of the event.
“I was playing great in the stroke play and just continued all the way through to the final,” Bigham said. “I was a little bit sloppy in some areas today, but I managed to get the job done. It is my only win, and I am so happy as it was in my last junior event as well.”
The victory earned Bigham berths in next year’s British Amateur Championship, the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and final qualifying for the British Open at St. Andrews.
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