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Austin Greaser wins the 120th Western Amateur at Exmoor Country Club.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCEED then try-try again.

Because in 2021 Austin Greaser of Vandalia Ohio (Dayton area) got close to winning two big amateur events.

First it was a final four in the Western Amateur at The Glen View Club. Then it was a trip to the championship match at the U.S. Amateur at historic Oakmont.

But Greaser admits he put a lot of work into those events, to fall just short of winning. But this year he was ready, ready to break through and win. Which is what he did at the 120th Western Amateur at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park, with a 1 UP win over Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira. But Greaser might not be done yet. Because he says his game is in a place where he can win the U.S. Amateur in two weeks.

The win at Exmoor did not come easy. Because Greaser had to survive a playoff to make the match play part of the tournament. But then he had two hard matches in the final four to actually win the title.

Greaser pulled together late in his semi-final match, a birdie-eagle-birdie finish to win 3 & 2 over William Mouw of Chino California. That solid finish helped Greaser believe he could win in the afternoon.

Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira from Argentina, and part of the University of Arkansas Razorback’s golf team.

But in spite of the confidence, the championship match did not come easy.

Greaser was quickly 2 DN after three holes to Fernandez de Oliveira of Argentina. Fernandez holed his bunker shot on the third hole to take a solid early lead.

But Greaser fought back to make things all-square after the 8th hole. But Fernandez won holes 9 and 10 with short birdie putts and seemed to be in command with a 2 Up lead. Then Fernandez started having issues finding the fairway with his driver.

“I played a lot of golf this week and my legs were feeling it” said Fernandez. “The hot weather didn’t help either.” Fernandez had to play 17 holes in his morning match against Texas Longhorn Travis Vick in a 2 & 1 win. Temperatures in the hot sun at Exmoor, reached 93 degrees in the afternoon.

But after matching fives in the par-5 11th hole, the only thing hotter than the temperature was Greaser’s putter. Trailing 2 DN, Greaser said he stuck to his game plan. A plan that allowed him to birdie holes 12-13-14 and 15, to go from 2 DN to 2 UP.

Austin Greaser tee’s off the 6th hole, during the Western Amateur championship match.

After the players halved the 16th hole, Greaser was two up with two holes to play. But Fernandez fought back hard. After Greaser drove it almost 20 yards past Fernandez in the 17th fairway, Fernandez responded with a 9-iron to 4 feet. To a back-right pin. Then Greaser almost missed the green, but left himself a 6 foot side hill-down hill putt for the win. But the putt lipped out, and Fernandez drained his birdie putt the players were off to the 18th hole.

Greaser drove it 18 yards past Fernandez again. But both players were in the 18th fairway. Then Fernandez stuck a wedge 15 feet right of the cup. Greaser with wedge in-hand from 90 yards, then stunned himself and the galley as his wedge sailed long. It took one hop and bounced over the green into the deep rough.

But with a front right pin placement, Greaser had room to work with. His chip shot hit some 20 feet short of the cup. But on the downhill sloped green it kept creeping down to four feet above the hole. Fernandez putting for birdie and to force a playoff, slid his putt just past the top of the hole. Greaser then rolled his four foot putt dead-center into the cup for the win.

CLICK HERE to HEAR the full interview with Western Amateur Champion Austin Greaser.

After the U.S. Amateur, Greaser will return to the University of North Carolina. Greaser holed his approach shot last September at Olympia Fields from 168 yards out on 18, to win the Illini Invitational. Both for himself and for his Tarheel team, who are looking forward to returning to Olympia Fields next month. Greaser expects to turn professional next June after his upcoming college season ends. But if he elects to try and make the Walker Cup team, his plans could change.

Next years 121st Western Amateur will be played at the North Shore Country Club in Glenview, located in Chicago’s northern suburbs.