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OUAZ Standout Hofman Adds First AGA Victory to his Resume at the San Tan Amateur

OUAZ standout Noah Hoffman emerged with a victory at the 2020 San Tan Amateur after turning in tournament low round 6-under 66 at Alta Mesa Golf Club on Sunday.

Despite the tough weather conditions, the 21-year-old managed to enter the final round at even, one stroke behind defending champion Adam Walicki and Mike Wagner.

“I felt like I came out ready to play and I had a game plan ready to go. I knew I was probably going to have to fire at some pins,” the Champion said.

Hofman charged onto the top of the leaderboard to take an early lead after birding five of his first eight holes.

Making the turn, the Nebraska native entered the final nine with pressure, just one stroke behind Walicki. He expanded his lead when he converted a single birdie on 10. Hofman squared a lone bogey-5 at hole 15, but managed to save par from 15 feet at the par-5 16th. With a birdie on 18, Hofman completed the back nine at 3-under, prevailing with a two shot win.

“I left myself in some good spots. I got myself into tricky spots on the back nine but made a really clutch par-putt on sixteen,” Hofman stated following his victory. “That really mellowed me out. I think that was really the huge key…and of course the birdie on eighteen.”

Although this marks Hofman’s first AGA victory, he is no stranger to adding wins to his established amateur resume. Before transferring to OUAZ his junior season, he managed two top-three national finishes and was also named to the NCCAA All-American team both seasons. With only a year and a half under his belt at OUAZ, Hofman has recorded five victories. Last month, Hofman set a 54-hole school record after turning in a 10-under 256. He also punched his ticket to Pinehurst for the 2019 U.S. Amateur, missing match play by two strokes.

The back-to-back AGA Player of the Year Adam Walicki finished the tournament in solo second after carding 36-hole total of 4-under. Mike Wagner rounded out the top three after turning in a 3-under on the weekend.

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