University Southern California Trojans
Lovemark Forces Playoff On Nationwide Tour Event
June 18, 2007 | Men's Golf
June 18, 2007
Jamie Lovemark, not too far removed from his 2007 NCAA men's golf individual title, forced a playoff against former Ryder Cup player Chris Riley at the Nationwide Tour's Rochester Area Charities Showdown at Somerby G.C. on Sunday (June 17).
Lovemark ultimately fell in the second hole of the playoff against Riley, a former UNLV star who was a member of the 2004 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Lovemark finished the final round with a 65. He was attempting to become the first amateur to win a Nationwide Tour event.
Lovemark and Riley matched pars on the first playoff hole, the par-5 18th. Riley won with a par on the 150-yard par-3 17th. The Trojan freshman missed a 5-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole that would have given him the win. After sending a pitching wedge into a greenside bunker on the second extra hole, he missed a 25-foot par putt by inches to give Riley the victory.
"I really didn't know what to expect," Lovemark said. "This is the second-best tour in the world and I learned a lot from playing with guys like this."
Lovemark started the day tied for 24th, but his 7-under 65 was the best of the day. His second-place finish matches the best-ever by an amateur in a Nationwide Tour event. Charles Howell finished second at the 2000 Greensboro Open as an amateur.
Players Mentioned
