Medley picks up first big time links win

By Staff
From Staff Reports
July 18, 2001
Ole Miss junior-to-be Andrew Medley, formerly of Meridian and now from Jackson, picked up perhaps the biggest tournament win of his young amateur golf career this past weekend.
A birdie putt on the third playoff hole earned him a round of 68 and the Eastern Amateur Championship over Mark DiGiacomo Sunday in Portsmouth, Va.
After firing rounds of 66 and 65 on Thursday and Friday, Medley shot 74 Saturday and was in three-way tie for the lead with James Johnson and DiGiacomo entering the final round Sunday.
Johnson built a four-shot lead over the first five holes, but by the 10th hole, all three players were once again knotted on the back nine.
DiGiacomo bogeyed the 16h hole, while Medley parred and the two went nose-to-nose down the stretch.
Medley birdied No. 18 to force the playoff and had a chance to win on the first sudden death hole, but missed an eight foot birdie attempt. He fought his way out of the rough on the third playoff hole, with his second shot landing five feet from the cup. He then birdied the hole to claim the title.
Medley has little time to celebrate, however, beginning play Wednesday in the Southern Amateur in Lufkin, Texas.