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Published Wednesday, July 23, 2008 in Sports

Hicks finishes as 1st alternate

By Sports Staff

The Times-Herald

One hole is all that separated the final four competitors Wednesday in an already extended final day at the U.S. Amateur Championship Qualifier at Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta.

Unfortunately for Newnan's Michael Hicks, he and Carter Newman of Augusta wound up on the short end of the stick at days end.

Hicks was forced to settle for a finish as first alternate after posting a 2-under 140 following two rounds of play, forcing a three-day playoff for the last two of six qualifying positions.

Scott Davenport of Marietta birdied three of his last four holes to force a playoff for the final two qualifying spots with Hicks and Will Wilcox of Ashville, Ala. On the first playoff hole at No. 1 -- where Hicks made birdie earlier in the day -- Wilcox and Davenport made birdie and par respectively to claim the qualifying spots while Hicks made bogey.

Hicks, a sophomore at Columbus State, still felt satisfied with his effort, calling it "the best tournament I've had in a long time."

University of South Carolina golf team member Mark Silvers of Savannah earned medalist honors, shooting 4-under 138 on the par 71 course. Brad Doster, who plays at the University of Kentucky, finished one-stroke back at 139, with Australia's Jin Jeong and University of Alabama player Matthew Swan taking the other qualifying spots.

Locally, Chance Griffin was the only other player to make the cut, shooting identical rounds of 2-over 73.

The second of two U.S. Amateur qualifiers to be played in Georgia is scheduled for Aug. 4-5 at The Standard Club in Duluth. The U.S. Amateur Championship will be played Aug. 18 at Pinehurst, N.C.

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