MALVERN, Pa. -- Penn State's JD Hughes held off all competitors with six birdies in the final round and shot a 10-under 203 total to win the 104th Pennsylvania Amateur on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at White Manor Country Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
The rising junior was tied for the lead at 2-under through nine holes on the day when inclement weather forced players inside to endure a five-hour delay.
"It was obviously thrilling and I couldn't have asked for a better tournament as far as enjoying myself," Hughes said. "The entire time I was having a blast, and playing with Cole (Miller), we were feeding off each other. I hit the ball pretty well, performed well in all phases of my game and I didn't let my mistakes frustrate me. I just took the approach that I would trust myself, stay calm and collected, and it ended up working out."
From Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Hughes (68-68-67) completed the event five strokes ahead of rising Penn State senior and defending champion Cole Miller (71-66-71), and Christopher Ault (69-70-69). Hughes was in second place by one stroke after the first day, with birdies on the final three holes. He matched his first-day total to move into a tie with for the lead at a 6-under 136.
Miller closed out his first round with three-straight birdies. He charged to second place with six birdies and an eagle for the tournament fields low-score 66 on day two.
Nittany Lion junior Ryan Dornes competed in the tournament and made a move up the leaderboard with three straight birdies in the final round, finishing in a tie for 24th (73-72-74). Nittany Lion alumnus Brendan Borst, (74-71-68) who played from 2007-10, took seventh place after scoring a three-under par 68 in the last round.