Amateur drains 25-foot birdie putt on final hole
PHOENIX, MD. – It was all slipping away for Matt Bassler — his game, his four-shot lead, his stranglehold on the biggest title of his golf career.
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But one thing Bassler never lost was his composure. Faced with the most crucial putt of his life, Bassler got it all back. Pouring in a 25-footer for birdie on the 18th hole at Hillendale Country Club, Bassler, 23, won the 88th Maryland Open, punctuating his dramatic recovery with an overhand first pump toward the hole.
It was a win for the ages. After signing his scorecard, Bassler received a hug from his father, Billy Bassler, a teaching pro at Rolling Road, who has come close but never won the event. Billy Bassler’s uncle, Charlie Bassler, a former pro at Indian Spring, won a record six Maryland Opens between 1948-65.
“That was the biggest putt of my life, the biggest back nine of my life,” said Basller, a Loyola grad. “And it’s the biggest thing I’ve ever won, by far.”
Bassler (70-69-71) finished with a 3-under-par 210 to defeat Brett Martin (212) by two strokes. Martin (Breton Bay) hit brilliant recovery shots, one over trees, another around them to put pressure on Bassler.
Meanwhile, the leader was a victim of bad luck. Bassler’s well-struck approach on No. 17 went over the green (“Too amped up,” he said). After leaving his chip on the fringe, Bassler ran his 18-foot putt four feet past. But he recovered with a clutch putt for bogey. When Martin rolled in his 4-footer for birdie, he was just a stroke back.
“I didn’t know if it was tied or if I was one up,” said Bassler. “It didn’t matter. I had my plan. I was going to tee off with a 2-iron off the tee.”
As Bassler came up the fairway, he learned he still had the lead. Laying up to 110 yards, Bassler followed with a wedge to the front of the green. When Martin pitched to within 15 feet, he had a good look at birdie. But Bassler ended it with an aggressive putt that had no lag, or nerves.
“I had a good read, wasn’t too nervous over it,” said Bassler, who works for the non-profit First Tee program, which introduces golf to economically disadvantaged children. “I just kept my head down and it went straight in.”
Bassler opened the day tied for the lead with Martin, but opened up an immediate advantage with four birdies on the first seven holes. His birdie putts came from 20, 20, 15, and 1 foot.
“It was the best putting round I think I’ve ever had,” said Bassler. “Everything I stood over, I made.”
