Auburn University sophomore Cayden Pope won our 99th New Year’s Invitational on his first try, rounds of 68, 68 and 67 giving him a six-shot victory over runnerup Noah Kumar, also a sophomore, at Rutgers University.  That ultimate margin belied the closeness of more than two-thirds of the contest.  Five players tied at 66 for the first round lead.  Pope and University of Central Florida junior Chase Haygood were atop the second round with 136 totals.  Cayden led by two shots after 11 holes of the final round but closed with birdies on 13,15,16 and 18.  In fact his play on our 3 finishing holes each day was outstanding, 7 birdies and an eagle for the week.

Defending champ Cooper Smith, a USF senior, closed with 69 for 211 for a fourth place tie with his USF teammate Shubham Jaglen and Arkansas’ John Daly II.  Columbia University’s Grant Lester edged them by a shot to finish alone in third place.  15 players finished under par for the event.  Stronger breezes and a cold start to Sunday’s round gave a bit more bite to the course which had yielded 17 rounds in the 60’s on Thursday.

The mid-amateur group, players 25 and over, was won for the second time by Troy Vannucci, at even par 216.  The seniors had a little more trouble with the course the final two days. Canada’s Adam Creighton emerged from a 3-way tie going into the final round with Mike Barkley and Jay Lindner to win with a 4-over par 220 total.

Cayden’s victory earned him a berth in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Lecom Suncoast Invitational event to be held at the Concession club in Sarasota.  We look forward to watching Cayden compete in that event in April.