June 24, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM - Rising junior standout Brendan Gielow fired a four-day total of 9-under par 267 to win the Northeast Amateur Invitational in record fashion Saturday at the Wannamoisett C.C. in Rumford, R.I.

The previous record of 8-under was shared by PGA Tour stars John Cook (set in 1979), Luke Donald (2000) and former Wake Forest All-American Kyle Reifers (2005). Gielow shot rounds of 68-66-67-66 to become the first player in the tournament's 47-year history to break par-69 in every round.

Gielow started the final round at 6-under par and held a two-shot. After making birdie at holes 1, 2, and 3, and adding another at the eighth, he made the turn in 30 and opened up a five-shot lead.

After bogies on 11 and 14, Gielow's led had shrunk to just two over Nathan Smith, a former U.S. Mid-Amateur champion. But Gielow made solid pars on 15, 16, and 17 before sinking a clutch 12-foot birdie putt on the final green for the record-setting finish.

Smith finished second at 6-under par and Billy Horschel, an All-American from Florida, finished third at 3-under.

According to Paul Kenyon of the Providence Journal, Gielow was extremely happy with win. "I don't think it's really set in yet," said Gielow, who began the week ranked 96th in the Golf Week/Scratch Players' World Amateur rankings. "I played really well this week. I've just got to thank God for being with me this week. My teammate, Webb Simpson (an All-American who recently turned pro), texted me a verse from Joshua this morning, saying just to stay strong. That really helped me through the day. This is by far the biggest tournament I've ever won."

Gielow, a Muskegon, Mich. native, becomes the third Deacon to win the Northeast Amateur. Jay Sigel, a two-time All-American at Wake, is the only player to win the title in back-to-back years as he won in 1984 and 1985, and then again in 1991. Reifers, also a two-time All-American for the Deacs, won the tournament in 2005.

Gielow finished his sophomore campaign at Wake with a 72.7 stroke average, the second-lowest mark on the team, behind Simpson. Gielow posted three top-ten finishes this season, with his best finish coming at the NCAA Central Regional, where he led entering the final round and ultimately finished second.