GGGA student Matthew Cowgill needed a low round Sunday just to have a chance at FCWT Falcons Fire.
Cowgill, of Weston, Ma., and a student in the Post Graduate Program at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, did just that, firing a 4-under 68, coming from four shots back to force a playoff with Brett Beazant at 1-under 143 in the Boys 15-19 Division.
On the first two playoff holes, Cowgill and Beazant matched sending it to a third sudden death hole, the short par 7th at just 371 yards.
Beazant hit a wonderful approach from the fairway bunker to about 15 feet, while Cowgill sent his approach just off the back of the green. Chipping from about 40 feet between him and the cup, and the support of the GGGA team around him, Cowgill hit a near perfect chip, rolling it in for birdie and his first win as a GGGA student.
Cowgill, 18, elected to take the year before heading to college to attend the Post Graduate Program at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, which prepares students for college golf and the pursuit of a college golf scholarship.
“That moment was unbelievable,” Cowgill said of making the chip to win. “I was just trying to get it close to save par and stay alive, then Thornton (GGGA student Evan Thornton) yells “get in” and I thought jeez, it might have a chance. When it dropped, everyone erupted. I was the happiest kid in the world at that point.”
His win Sunday is sure to help that pursuit.
Cowgill wasn’t the only GGGA student making a run at a win though.
Luis Acevedo, of Venezuela, was also right in the mix with Cowgill while Mami Yamamoto, of Japan, was just a few back in the Girls 15-19 Division.
Acevedo posted a 1-under 71 Saturday for a tie at the top. He followed with a solid performance Sunday with a 1-over 73 to take third.
Yamamoto carded back-to-back 74s to tie for second in her first FCWT event of the year, following four top 5s last year.
About GGGA
The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, located near Orlando, FL in Howey in the Hills, is the world’s premiere junior golf academy. In addition to the junior golf program, GGGA also features summer golf camps, winter golf camps and programs, training and golf lessons for amateurs, professionals and adults.
The Academy is committed to excellence in every facet of golf, fitness, personal development and academics, evident through exclusive relationships with Montverde Academy, an acclaimed private college preparatory school, and the American Junior Golf Association.
Gary Gilchrist, founder of the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, has been recognized as a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher 2013-2014 and as a Golf Digest Top 50 Teacher in America 2011-2012 and 2013-2014. Gilchrist teaches many of the games top juniors and pros at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, of which include: Morgan Hoffmann, Shanshan Feng, Sandra Gal and many more.
