Donald Hurter,
17, of Honolulu, Hawaii, rallied from an early four-hole deficit to defeat
Keith Banes, of La Mirada, Calif., 1 up, in 21 holes, in the final of
the Junior Amateur Championship, played on the South Course of the Wilmington
Country Club, Wilmington, Del. At the same time, the Girls' Junior Championship
was being conducted over the North Course.
This was
the first time that the USGA had conducted two national championships
simultaneously at the same golf club. Willard Wood, of Tucson, Ariz.,
the defending Champion, was medalist for an unprecedented second time
with a 36-hole score of 141, matching his total of a year ago. He lost
to Banes, however, in a semi-final match, 1 up.
In the other
semi-final, Hurter eliminated Chris Perry, 6 and 5. In the final, Hurter
overcame Bane's four-hole lead to level the match after 15 holes. Banes
regained the lead at the 16th hole, where Hurter bogeyed. Hurter ran in
an 18-foot putt for a halve on the 17th hole to stay within one hole.
Banes then three-putted the 18th hole to send the match into extra holes.
At the third
extra hole, a par 5, Bane's ball lay five, just three feet from the hole.
Hurter then played his fourth stroke from a bunker. His ball deflected
off Bane's ball and came to rest three feet from the hole. Hurter holed
the putt to end the match. The 2,013 entries represented the fourth largest
field in the history of the event.