Playoff chip-in sends Centerville native to U.S. Am at Pebble Beach

Centerville native Austin Sipe saved his best for last at Moraine Country Club on Monday. The former Wright State golfer chipped in for birdie on the first playoff hole to earn a spot in in the U.S. Amateur Championship next month at Pebble Beach Golf Club in California.

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Sipe battled into a three-way playoff for the second and final spot in the field with a 4-under par 67 in the afternoon round of the 36-hole event.

University of Dayton teammates Jake Gilkison of Springboro and Nicolas Paxson of Cincinnati joined Sipe in the playoff after both posted 3-under par 139.

The playoff began on the par-4, 10th hole and Sipe promptly hit his tee shot into a fairway bunker while GIlkison and Paxson both found the fairway.

Sipe’s second shot came to rest about three feet off the green, setting up the last shot heroics. The 2017 Ohio Amateur Champion wedged his third shot onto the green and watched it roll into the hole for a birdie.

Gilkison still had a chance to send the playoff to another hole, but his birdie putt stayed out and Sipe completed an impressive comeback on his home course.

Patrick Cover of Cornelius, North Carolina was the medalist. He shot 67-69 a 136 total to earn his way back to the U.S. Amateur for the second year in a row.

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