Dave Womack

Dave Womack, 27, of McDonough, Ga., won the first two holes of the day and held his lead for the rest of the 36-hole final to win the 26th U.S. Mid-Amateur championship, 1 up, over Ryan Hybl. 25, of Winterville, Ga., at Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff, Ariz.

"Words can't explain it," said Womack. "I am so thrilled. I did not expect this at all. It's amazing."

It is the first national championship for Womack, and meant a chance to play in the 2007 Masters Tournament. For the Georgia-born, Georgiaschooled insurance agent, it was a dream come true.

"It hasn't sunk in," said Womack, a 2001 Georgia State University graduate, just after the win. "It is just unbelievable. I've always dreamed about going over there and playing."

After Womack won the first two holes in the morning round, he increased his lead to 3 holes on two brief occasions, lastly when he won the first hole of the afternoon round with a par. From there, Hybl made his move to close the gap. Hybl used winning birdies on the 20th and 22nd holes to cut the deficit to one hole.

A pivotal hole from there was the par-5, 539-yard 13th hole, the 31st of the match. Womack, holding a 1-up advantage, hit his tee shot into the right-hand hazard. Hybl gave away his advantage by hitting his second shot right into the thick grassy hazard next to the green. He tried to advance his ball, but didn't. Then, he took a drop and ended up with a bogey six.

Womack chipped to the green in four and one-putted for a winning par.

"I go from thinking I was getting all square to going 2 down and that just deflated me," said Hybl, the assistant golf coach at the University of Georgia. "But I had a chance on 18 and I dust didn't execute."

Hvbl had won the 16th (34th) when Womack threeputted the short par-4. They halved the 17th (35th) hole and it came down to the long par-5, 600-yard 18th hole, the 36th of the match. Hybl went for the green in two from 275 yards out and reached the fringe right of the green. He chipped down to eight feet, but missed his birdie putt.

Womack played the hole more conservatively, and when he made his 5-footer for par, he had the 1-up victory.

In the 36 hole-final, Womack played the equivalent of three under par, counting the usual concessions for match play, with six birdies and three bogeys. Hybl finished at two under, with seven birdies and five bogeys.

Womack and Hybl have known each other since their junior golf days. It was the second time two players from the same state met in the final of the MidAmateur Championship. Pennsylvanians Jay Sigel and 0. Gordon Brewer met in the 1985 Mid-Am final, with Sigel prevailing.

"I'm glad the trophy is going back to Georgia," said Hybl. "I'm disappointed I didn't win, but I'm super happy for Dave."