BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — Scott Harvey won the U.S. Mid-Amateur on Thursday to earn a spot in the Masters, beating Brad Nurski 6 and 5 in the 36-hole final.
The 36-year-old Harvey, a real estate property manager from Greensboro, North Carolina, had a 4-up lead after the morning round on Saucon Valley’s Old Course.
“I just can’t really put it into words,” Harvey said. “This tournament has been my No. 1 goal every single year. I can’t even put it into words.”
Harvey overcame back pain with help from friend and caddie Rocky Manning.
“I’m tired, but you can’t let that stop you,” Harvey said. “My back was tingling all day (Wednesday). It was tingling all day today. “Rocky, my buddy, was saying, ‘Look, you belong here, believe it.’ And that’s what we did.”
Nurski, a 35-year-old railroad conductor and switchman from St. Joseph, Missouri, was trying to become the first left-hander to win the event.
“I didn’t play badly, I just didn’t play good enough,” Nurski said. “Obviously, he is a wonderful golfer and his resume speaks for itself. No regrets for me.”
The match marked only the second time that co-medalists have met in the final in the 34-year history of the event for players 25 and older.
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