Safely becoming the first 72-hole stroke-play medalist in the championship to earn the match-play title since Chris Williams in 2012, Xiong claimed he never once believed he actually had the victory over Redman locked away. On the contrary, the 18-year-old from Canyon Lake, Calif., admitted to becoming more nervous.

“After 16, I started to feel it,” said Xiong, who was named the national freshman of the year in 2017 after enrolling in Eugene only in January. “I got a little more nervous, a little more tense. Before that, I was loose. Doc and I had fun out there … before 16, it was a relaxing round. We tried to keep it light, even though it’s such a big stage.”

After making five birdies in the first 14 holes, Xiong dropped the 15th, 16th and 17th to Redman, the ACC freshman of the year at Clemson last spring. Redman then nearly pulled off the most amazing of comebacks when he lipped out a 20-foot birdie try that would have given him the title on the 18th hole. (He followed by conceding a four-foot par putt to Xiong to send them to extra holes, not wanting the match to end on a possible miss from his opponent.)

As it would turn out, the duo would go four extra holes, making it the longest final match in Western Amateur history. But only after Xiong lipped out a 15-foot birdie try to win on the 19th, the pair then halving the 20th with pars and 21st with birdies (Xiong’s from 15 feet after Redman two-putted).

On the 22nd hole, Xiong was 12 feet away for birdie while Redman was more than 100 feet. When Redman couldn’t two-putt for par, Xiong finally closed the match out, and 145 holes of golf in six days of competition.

Dubai-based Indian No.1 Rayhan Thomas missed the 36-hole cut by five strokes.

The post Despite big lead, Norman Xiong has to hold on to win Western Amateur in 22 holes appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

“I’m trying to compete more in the US and in Europe and in big amateur events around the world, which is essential for me to put myself in pressure situations and see how I react, get feedback from it, learn from it and move on and improve,” the 17-year-old told The National’s John McAuley at the time. 

It’s fair to surmise the MENA Tour member is ready to move on from the 115^th Western Amateur after missing the initial 36-hole cut at the prestigious event in Glencoe, Ilinois on Wednesday. There will be plenty of lessons to reflect upon too as he eyes a busy second half of 2017.

Starting his second round from the 10^th tee at Skokie Country Club in a share of 49th and just outside the top-44 and ties cut-line (following an opening even par 71), Thomas got to three under for the tournament with an eagle three on 13 and a birdie on 16.

RELATED CONTENT: Thomas walking a tightrope at Western Amateur

But from the relative comfort of his brief T17 position, Thomas bogeyed 18 and then mixed two birdies with four bogeys and two doubles in a homeward six-over score of 41. The Dubai-based teen eventually signed for a 75 to finish +4 for the championship, five shots shy of the cut and 16 shots adrift of Australian pace-setter Ruben Sondjaja (66-64 for a -12 aggregate of 130).

They say you learn more from losses and that will inevitably be the case for the level headed Thomas who moved up to 66th in the amateur world rankings following his Kansas bronze medal.

Awesome week at the #usjunioram this week at Flint Hills National, Kansas. Thanks to the club and the @usga for their warm hospitality and amazing golf course. Also huge thanks to everyone for all the support this week. #progress #dubaicreek #titleist #silverback

A post shared by Rayhan Thomas (@ray_jthomas) on Jul 22, 2017 at 9:37am PDT

Thomas certainly has plenty to look forward with the highlight being the Junior Presidents Cup, to be played on the eve of the senior event at Liberty National in Jesery City, New Jesery from September 26-October 1.

The Indian teen is a lock for Trevor Immelman’s International team for the Jnr event at nearby Plainfield Country Club on September 25-26. The 2008 Masters champion has enlisted nine-time major champion Gary Player as an honourary captain while U.S. captain David Toms, the 2001 US PGA Champion, will have Jack Nicklaus in a similar role, promising the likes of Thomas extraordinary insight into big time performance.

Beforehand, Thomas will be out to defend his home Dubai Creek Open MENA Tour title (September 11-13) and has indicated he will also have a tilt at the developmental tour’s Golf Citizen Classic at the Els Club, Dubai the following week.

There is also a chance Thomas could contest the 91st (British) Boys’ Amateur Championship with the under-18 event to be hosted at Nairn and Nairn Dunbar on the shores of the Moray Firth from August 15-20.

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