Palm Harbor, Fla. – R J Nakashian took three-time Senior Player of the Year Miles McConnell through six holes of a playoff to conquer the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort. The
story behind Nakashian consists of injuries, heartbreak and defeat. However now, he captured the title that he wanted the most.
Innisbrook Resort – Copperhead Course was described by the players as “grueling and difficult” but many competitors described it as the best venue they have played at. Less than a month ago, the Valspar Championship was played at Copperhead and is year in and year out one of the most difficult courses on the PGA Tour. The “Snake Pit” (holes 16-18) played more than 4,700 over-par since the year 2000. With hills you rarely see in Florida combined with thick rough, firm greens and undulating greens, players knew it was going to be difficult.
Round One
R J Nakashian’s 63rd Senior Amateur journey began on Tuesday, firing the round of the day at even-par 71. Joining him however, were three time Senior Player of the Year Miles McConnell, 2023 Walker Cup Captain Mike McCoy and bomber Bill Mallon. With a leaderboard like that, it was anybody’s tournament.
Round Two
Round two came and went, with even more brutal conditions, jumping the lead up to three-over par. Nakashian was that leader, even though he played his last four holes in three-over. On his tail were Chad Frank and Daniel Owen at four-over, and Miles McConnell only two back.
Final Round
The final round proved to have potential to turn the 63rd Senior Amateur into the tournament of the year. On the front nine, Brian Armstrong, who was sneakily having a very good tournament, shot four-under par to grab the lead. Fast-forward to the Snake Pit for the final two groups, which saw Miles McConnell and Brian Armstrong battling it out.
McConnell missed the 16th green left, which seemed to be a nearly impossible flop shot to a back right hole location. Defying the odds, he nearly holed it, leaving himself a tap in for par. Armstrong went on to bogey 16, giving McConnell a one stroke advantage heading into the last. Both players hit the green, with McConnell looking at a 40-foot birdie putt and Armstrong a 15 footer. McConnell lagged it up to four feet and, Armstrong missed and tapped in for par. Out of nowhere, McConnell missed his par putt, sending the two into a playoff with Nakashian still on the course, one shot behind.
R J Nakashian hit his approach shot on 18 to nearly the same spot as McConnell. After his bogey on 17, he “completely thought he was out of it”. However, he drains the 40-footer, while a spectator yelled out “you’re in a playoff!”
Playoff
With a newfound hope, Nakashian, Armstrong and McConnell went to the 18th for their first playoff hole. Armstrong made bogey while the other two made par. McConnell seemed to have the tournament locked up multiple times in the six-hole playoff, but missed multiple short putts while Nakashian got up-and-down on multiple holes.
With a playoff rotation of 18 to 16-18, the two saw themselves standing on the 17th tee. McConnell hit his shot on the par three close, but Nakashian hit it closer. McConnell missed, which left Nakashian with a seven-footer to win. He proceeded to drain it to win the 63rd Senior Amateur.
“What a total range of emotions,” says Nakashian in an interview after the round. “This is incredible, this is the one I wanted the most. I have looked forward to this for the past five to six years”.
After having back surgery in November, Nakashian said, “I didn’t even know if I was going to play again”. He had to withdraw from the U.S. Senior Amateur because of his injury. Nearly six months later, he became the 63rd Senior Amateur Champion.
