Jack Newman

Jack Newman, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa, defeated John Chin, 21, of Temecula, Calif., 5 and 3, in the 36-hole final of the 2008 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at the 7,551-yard, par-71 Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, Colo.

"Oh, it's pretty awesome," said a tired but happy Newman, who received an invitation to the 2009 Masters Tournament. "I can't even explain it in words. I'm excited to go play with the Masters. It was a dream since I was a little kid. Now, it's finally achieved. I don't think it's settled in yet."

Newman was the stroke-play equivalent of five under par through 33 holes with the usual match-play concessions. He made nine birdies and four bogeys.

Newman, who had a 1-up lead entering the afternoon round after a backand-forth morning round, knew he couldn't relax against Chin, who was vying to become the fifth left-handed player to win a USGA championship and the first Californian to win the Amateur Public Links since Tim Hogarth won in 1996.

"My stomach was turning," said Newman, who missed putts twice during the championship that would have won his matches in regulation against Billy Horschel and Corey Nagy. "[I was] wondering if he was going to make [a comeback]. When he didn't, I just think of it as dodging a bullet and going on to the next tee and try to win it."

Newman, who plays on the two-time Big Ten Champion Michigan State team, gained control of the match in the afternoon round by winning the ninth, 10th and 11th holes with pars to take a 4-up advantage.

"I'm a true believer in some things just not happening," said Chin, a two-time All-Big West first-team choice at California-Irvine. "Nos. 9, 10 and 11 was just my calling to say it's just not your day. He played well, no doubt about it. It just wasn't my day."

Following three consecutive halved holes, Chin made a mistake at the match's 33rd hole, the par-5 15th.

Chin, the longer driver of the two, hit his tee shot in the right-side lateral water hazard after Newman had driven in the fairway. Knowing he had the match in hand, Newman, the first Iowan to win the Public Links, played it safe and laid up short of the green on his second shot. His third shot landed 27 feet from the hole.

Chin did not reach the green until his fifth shot and then he missed a 30- foot putt from the fringe and conceded Newman's birdie, ending the match.

Despite not winning, Chin's reaching the final of his first USGA championship is a major accomplishment.

"I can play with the best amateurs in the world," Chin said. "On paper, on record, on stats, I haven't shown it much. After this week, I am a true believer in that."

In the morning, Newman overcame an early two-hole deficit after the fourth hole to take a 1-up lead, which changed hands three times. He maintained his lead with dramatic play on the 18th hole. After Chin had stuck an iron shot to 3 feet for a nearly sure birdie, Newman drained a 30-foot birdie putt to halve the hole.

"I made some really good putts [in the morning]," said Newman, a second-team All-Big Ten pick in 2008. "I think that sort of stunned John. I made a few putts that were really, really nice."