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By Chris Lang
MIDLOTHIAN — In a rare burst of emotion, Virginia Beach’s Evan Beck pumped his fist three times on Sunday as his four-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at Independence Golf Club settled in the bottom of the cup, securing a victory in the State Open of Virginia, presented by Virginia Lottery.
More than a decade had passed since he had last claimed the title in this event, and much has changed since his first win. In 2010, Beck was a sophomore at Wake Forest, hopes and dreams of a professional golf career ahead of him. Now, a reinstated amateur, he’s part of the workforce, playing golf for fun and competition, he said earlier this week.
The feeling of winning though? It doesn’t change.
“Winning always feels good,” said Beck, who posted a final-round 68 for a three-day total of 201. “I don’t care how old I am, it feels good to hold that trophy. Very happy. It’s been a nice couple of weeks.”
Beck (Princess Anne CC) nipped 2020 champion Mark Lawrence Jr.—playing in his first tournament as a professional—by a single stroke and the slimmest of margins. With Beck snug to the hole, Lawrence knew he had to make his 12-foot birdie putt to send the championship to a playoff. But his attempt skittered inches to the right of the hole, and Beck converted his for the victory.
“Felt like I hit a good putt, it just didn’t go in,” said Lawrence, who returned 68 on Sunday for a three-day total of 202. “Kind of the story of the day for me.”
Lawrence earned the Lyn Luck Trophy as low professional and earned his first pro paycheck, but he wasn’t satisfied afterward.
“That’s not why I’m playing, though,” he said. “I’m playing to win. So just a frustrating day out there for me.”
The duel at the top really didn’t get going until well into the back nine. Beck converted a 35-foot birdie putt on No. 14 to go ahead of Lawrence by a stroke. He gave the lead right back with a bogey on the next hole as Lawrence made par.
A big swing occurred on the par-5 17th. After Lawrence had lagged his eagle putt to within a two feet of the hole from off the green, Beck sank about a 25-foot birdie putt to keep pace with Lawrence, who converted his birdie.
The players went to 18 tied, and Lawrence hit first, hitting the center of the green with his approach. Beck had a similar approach into 18 as he did in 2010, when he defeated Cameron Yancey by a single shot.
“I was 126 away, up the hill, plus six, and my gap wedge goes about 118,” Beck said. “I was kind of juiced, and the wind was in my face, so I backed off. I didn’t want to hit one short and spin it back. The wind died down, I went back in, hit my 118 shot, and it came off really nicely.”
After he sank the winning putt, Beck shared a moment with his father Gary, the VSGA’s president who was on the bag for Evan last week when he won the Eastern Amateur at Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club.
“It’s just very, very cool,” Evan said. “I really wanted to win the (VSGA Amateur), which I’ve never won. It’s such a tough tournament to win. It’s awesome to have him close by. He’s given a lot to the VSGA, and obviously, to me. It’s really cool to get one done.”
The two at the top finished well clear of the rest of the field. Radford University’s Bryce Corbett made the move of the day to finish in solo third at 7-under 206. Corbett started the day at 2 over but tied the Independence competitive course record with a 9-under-par 62 to send him shooting up the leaderboard.
“I made some feet of putts today,” Corbett said. “I made a couple of bombs out there. I made a 35 footer on 1. I made one over the ridge on 7, from like 50 feet. Made one on 10 to start the day. Made one on 15 from like 25 or 30 feet for birdie. And I holed out a bunker shot for eagle on 17, so that helps.
“And you know, the last day, when you’re over par, you have nothing to lose. You just go out and fire at pins.”
Corbett’s Radford teammate, Nick Taliaferro, shot 68 on Sunday to finish alone in fourth with a three-day 207. Amateurs Alex Price (Christopher Newport), Sam Jung (Virginia) and Connor Johnson (Virginia Tech) tied for fifth at 208.
Joe Lussier, PGA, of 1757 Golf Club, was the low PGA professional, posted a 3-under 210 that left him tied for 10th with amateurs Drew Brockwell (Virginia Tech), Ross Funderburke (Furman) and Jack Montague (Virginia).
Lang is the VSGA’s Manager of Media and Communications. The State Open of Virginia is jointly conducted by the VSGA and Middle Atlantic PGA.