Evan Beck wins U.S. Mid-Amateur, earns Masters, U.S. Open spots

MANAKIN-SABOT, Va. — Evan Beck finally won a USGA title Thursday when he overwhelmed Bobby Massa 9 and 8 to win the U.S. Mid-Amateur, earning spots in the Masters and the U.S. Open next year.

Beck was runner-up in the 2008 U.S. Junior Amateur and last year in the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

This one was never in doubt for Beck, 34, who is from Virginia Beach, Virginia. He played bogey-free in the morning round at Kinloch Golf Club to build an 8-up lead over Massa.

It was the second-largest margin of victory in the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

Beck joined George Zahringer (2001-02) as the only players to lose in the championship match of the U.S. Mid-Amateur and win the next year.

“To get all the way there and come up short is gut-wrenching. To be able to push through and prove that you can do it to yourself, more than anything, it’s pretty awesome,” Beck said.