Evan Beck wins U.S. Mid-Newbie in dominant trend, earns Masters invite

In the end, Evan Beck could have his title emblazoned on the wall within the USGA’s Corridor of Champions. Because of his excellent efficiency at Kinloch Golf Membership this week, Beck is the most recent U.S. Mid-Newbie champion.

Beck, a 34-year-old from Virginia, performed magnificently from begin to end this week as he turned the primary stroke-play medalist to win the championship since 2008. He completed off his title with a 9-and-8 beatdown of Bobby Massa within the championship match Thursday to say his first USGA title.

“It’s fairly candy,” he mentioned of lastly profitable a USGA title. “I’ve all the time dreamt of profitable one in all these.”

Beck had been shut earlier than, however he’d by no means fairly ascended the mountaintop. He made the championship match of the 2008 U.S. Junior Newbie, beating Jordan Spieth alongside the best way earlier than dropping to Cameron Peck, and likewise misplaced within the championship match of final yr’s U.S. Mid-Am as he fell to Stewart Hagestad. In his residence state, although, Beck was unstoppable.

After sharing medalist honors with Segundo Oliva Pinto after taking pictures rounds of 68 and 65, Beck battled his strategy to the semis, profitable three of his first 4 matches on the 18th gap or later. As soon as he reached the ultimate 4, Beck left little doubt. He gained his semifinal match over Stephen Behr Jr. 5 and three earlier than simply dispatching of Massa within the 36-hole ultimate.

“To get all the best way there and are available up brief [twice] is gut-wrenching,” Beck mentioned. “To have the ability to push via and show that you are able to do it to your self, greater than something, it’s fairly superior.”

With the win, Beck turns into the primary native Virginian to win a USGA title since Lauren Greenlief on the 2015 U.S. Ladies’s Mid-Newbie. The win strikes Beck to No. 32 within the World Newbie Golf Rating and earns him a spot within the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Nation Membership. As well as, he’ll all however definitely obtain an invite to subsequent spring’s Masters.

“You’ve seen me cry like 3 times,” Beck mentioned. “I’m in all probability going to do some extra of that later.”

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com the place he spends his days running a blog, producing and modifying. Previous to becoming a member of the staff at GOLF, he attended the College of Texas adopted by stops with the Texas Golf Affiliation, Crew USA, the Inexperienced Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all issues instruction and covers newbie and girls’s golf. He could be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.