Curtis Thompson captures second title at Dixie Amateur tournament

Curtis Thompson of Coral Springs won his second Dixie Amateur title in three years in a two-hole playoff.

Don’t ask Curtis Thompson what qualifies as his favorite golf tournament. It’s pretty evident.

For the second time in three years, Thompson walked away with the Dixie Amateur championship Sunday and the crystal trophy that comes with it.

Making Thompson even more proud of winning the event is the fact he grew up only a few miles away from the Heron Bay Golf Club where the Dixie Amateur is played. That meant he had plenty of family and friends watching him pull out Sunday’s triumph in dramatic fashion, taking the title by defeating Florida State University freshman Jack Maguire on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.

Thompson, 21 and a LSU junior, shot a 65 in the final round, as did Maguire.

Both players started with unimpressive rounds of 72 on the first day of the tournament. But both players improved each day and moved into contention. Thompson went 72-70-66-65—273, and Maguire shot 72-69-67-65—273. They each finished at 15-under for the 72 holes of regulation play.

Third-round leader McCormick Clouser, who started Sunday with a four-stroke advantage, finished two strokes back at 275.

Afterward, Thompson said he wasn’t really aware what score he was shooting. “I thought I had 66,” he said. “I was more concerned with playing each shot.”

Thompson grew up in Coral Springs and is a member of one of South Florida’s most illustrious golfing families. Sister Lexi is a top LPGA player, and brother Nick plays on the PGA Tour.

A missed putt of 10 feet by Thompson on the 18th hole of regulation sent the match into the playoff.

Standing on the 18th tee of regulation, Thompson had a one-stroke lead after Maguire took bogey on No. 17 and Thompson made birdie. On 18, Thompson was on the back fringe of the green and elected to putt rather than chip. He left it 10 feet away and proceeded to miss that putt to take a bogey before going on to win in the playoff by making birdie on the second hole.

In a tournament associated with the Dixie Amateur, Corey Knight beat Ryan Carter by making a par on the first sudden-death playoff hole at Woodlands Country Club to win the inaugural Woodlands Winter Invitational. The event included the players who did not make Dixie Amateur cut.