LEBANON -- Clay Ogden became the first Cougar golfer to win the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship with a composed comeback at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio on Saturday.
Ogden, a 20-year-old from West Point, Utah, will enter his junior season at BYU with a likely invitation to the 2006 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga., as one of only five amateurs to play in the April classic.
After defeating 15-year-old phenom Michelle Wie 5 and 4 in the quarterfinals, Ogden advanced to the match-play final with a 2-and-1 win against Garrett Jones in the semis.
In the final round, Ogden erased a four-point deficit to win 1-up against 19-year-old Martin Ureta from Chile.
Ureta, who plays for the North Carolina golf team, held the lead until the 34th hole of the 36-hole final when Ogden birdied from two feet after hitting a 118-yard wedge shot. Ureta missed a 12-foot birdie attempt and watched as Ogden played him evenly on the last two holes.
The two finalists birdied the par-5 17th, and the championship was decided when Ogden equaled Ureta's par with a two-foot putt on No. 18.
Ogden walked off the last green to receive his gold medal and begin his one-year watch of the James D. Standish Jr. Cup.
Ogden maintained his composure throughout the tournament, needing to win a playoff on Tuesday to advance to match play. Ogden overcame his No. 63 seed in the final field of 64 and came from behind in four of his six match-play rounds to make his title run.