July 18, 2009

Former Tiger golf standout Brad Benjamin defeated Nick Taylor of Canada earlier today to win the 2009 United States Amateur Public Links Championship. He defeated Taylor 7&6 in the 36-hole match play final at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club.

Benjamin, who led 4-up after 18 holes, continued his stellar play in the second round, winning the first hole of the afternoon round by hitting his approach shot on the 468-yard par-4 first hole to within 3-feet for birdie, which was conceded by Taylor.

Benjamin then matched Taylor's birdie on the 621-yard par-5 fifth hole, and surged ahead to 6 up after making a 30 foot birdie putt on the sixth hole. He then closed out Taylor, 7 and 6, by hitting his tee shot the 164-yard par-3 12th hole to within 8 inches.

The Public Links championship is an event that has been held since 1922. It is labeled as the championship for all public course golfers, as no one that has a membership at a private club is eligible to compete for the title.

With the victory, Benjamin becomes joins Hillman Robbins and Lou Graham as the only Tiger alumni to have won a USGA Championship. Robbins claimed the 1954 United State Amateur Championship and Graham won the 1975 United States Open.

Benjamin also earns an exemption into the 2010 Masters with the victory.