29-06-2025
Vanderbilt's Carlos Astiazaran takes North & South Amateur title in playoff at Pinehurst No. 2
Carlos Astiazaran took his time lining up the putt. Then he stood over it, pulled the putter back and made his stroke, quickly turning his head toward the hole.
It didn't take long for him to begin his celebration. He exploded once the ball dropped, and the fans surrounding the first green joined in on the eruption.
Astiazaran, who transferred to Vanderbilt from Pacific this offseason, won the 125th North & South Amateur on Saturday at Pinehurst No. 2, beating Tennessee 2026 commit Tyler Watts on the first extra hole. Watts, who won the Sunnehanna Amateur two weeks ago and finished T-6 last week at the Northeast Amateur, was 1 up with two holes to go, but Astiazaran birdied the par-3 17th to tie the match before draining another birdie on the par-4 first to win.
'This is definitely by far the biggest one I've ever had in my career,' Astiazaran said. 'It's so big. To win a playoff, too? I mean, look at my hand. I'm still shaking.'
The rising junior led early on but then trailed a majority of the match, though he and Watts spent a couple different holes tied down the stretch. On the closing 18th, Astiazaran had a look to win the match 1 up but couldn't get it to fall.
Then in the playoff, his approach landed roughly 10 feet right of the flag, and the rest is history.
'I was walking the clubhouse hallway and every time I'd look around and say to myself, 'Wow, what would my name look like up there?'' Astiazaran said. 'And, now, to say I did that is pretty special. I made a putt to win. I didn't lag and win with a 2-putt. I earned it.
'I won at Pinehurst.'
