Amateur Star Secures Major Starts After Dominant US Mid-Amateur Victory
A year after heartbreak in the final, Evan Beck dominated the US Mid-Amateur final, claiming a 9&8 victory and a spot at notable Major championships
The US Mid-Amateur promised to be a thrilling event but, in the 36-hole final, Evan Beck never gave his opponent, Bobby Massa, a chance, as he produced the second largest victory in the tournament's history.
Having played college golf at Wake Forest, Beck lost the US Mid-Amateur final in 2023 against recognized amateur, Stewart Hagestad, with the 34-year-old out for payback a year on.
Racing into an 8-up lead after 18 holes, the job was all but done at the halfway stage, with the American able to play his way to victory over the final holes at Kinloch Golf Club.
The victory means that he has secured a spot at the 2025 US Open at Oakmont, as well as the next two US Amateurs. What's more, Beck will also likely earn an invitation to the 2025 Masters, which starts in April.
"I'm playing probably the best golf of my life,” Beck stated after his 9&8 victory. "So maybe if I stuck with it (golf), I could have made some money. Happy with today, with this week, and it's really special to do it so close to home. Looking forward to what's next."
At the time of victory, Beck was four-under for the 28-holes played and, just a year on from his 3&2 heartbreak, the American revealed that: "Last year was pretty brutal. It wasn't even really close. The score was close at the end, 3 and 2, but I was down 9 at one point. Like I said earlier, to be able to come back and make it to the finals again and come out on top is pretty sweet."
In regards to his opponent, Massa stated: "He (Beck) was very solid today. Great player. I definitely didn't put a lot of pressure on him. That maybe made it a little easier for him. I wish I would have given him a better run at it. But it is what it is. I didn't drive it good today. Also, the putter… I couldn't read the greens today. I was off by just a little bit. Kept under-reading them a little bit, then I started overreading them, kind of back and forth. Yeah, just wasn't my day.”
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Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.
Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.
Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?
Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°
Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°
Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°
Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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