GASTONIA, N.C. - App State men's golf sophomore Addison Beam brought home the 2020 Gaston County Amateur championship Sunday afternoon with an 11-under-par showing for the event.
"It felt like it was meant to be, and it was my third time playing in it," Beam said. "I have won an amateur like this before, but I never had the lead going into the final round."
The event incorporated three separate golf courses for the participants, Catawba Creek, Cramer Mountain and Gaston Country Club. Despite playing on three different courses, Beam went on to shoot below par at each course.
Beam opened a lead early on day one, Friday, by carding an opening round of 64 at Catawba Creek (par 70) to finish 6-under. With a two-day score of 135, Beam (-7) then led the field by three stokes heading into the final day of play on Sunday.
"I knew that I was putting good, but off the tee was a little off until the last day," Beam said. "I knew that if I just grinded to make par and have a birdie come here and there, I was going to win it."
To round out the tournament at Gaston Country Club, Beam carded a 68 (-4) to give him a three-day total of 203 for 11-under-par, 64-71-68. When the dust settled, he seized the trophy by a total of four stokes over amateur Steven Dellinger.
Beam continued right where he left off in the spring with the Black and Gold before the COVID-19 shutdown. At the Bash at the Beach back in March, he tied a career low for a single collegiate round (69), posed a career-best finish by tying for fifth and led all Mountaineers with a 6-under-par effort for the event.
"This is huge for me going into the season," Beam said. "This gives me a lot confidence, and I know I can shoot low numbers in crucial moments."
