June 24, 2001

St. Louis, Mo. - University of Missouri men's golfer Mark McBride made a huge comeback in the final nine holes of play to defeat Len Johnsen of Overland Park, Kan. to claim his second straight Missouri Amateur Championship.

Johnsen, a two-time Kansas Amateur champion, held a four-hole lead heading into the back nine. But McBride, a Lebanon, Mo. native who will be a senior at Mizzou next year, didn't give in, as he birdied five holes on the back nine at Sunset Hills Country Club to stage the comeback.

McBride, who won the 2000 title, has now claimed consecutive Missouri Amateur championships, and becomes the first man to accomplish such a feat since Tom Watson won back-to-back Missouri Amateur titles in 1970 and '71.

McBride was seeded #1 after the stroke play portion of the tournament, which was held June 19-24 at Sunset Hills. He then won six successive matches in match play to claim the title. Here's a recap of his match play victories:

Round: Round of 64

McBRIDE, MARK, LEBANON def. ROACH, DEREK, POPLAR BLUFF, 4 and 3

Round: Round of 32

McBRIDE, MARK, LEBANON def. SHULTZ, BRYAN, THAYER, 4 and 3

Round: Round of 16

McBRIDE, MARK, LEBANON def. KREITNER, DOUG, FLORISSANT, 1 up

Round: Quarterfinal

McBRIDE, MARK, LEBANON def. HILL, CHRIS, SPRINGFIELD, 3 and 2

Round: Semifinal

McBRIDE, MARK, LEBANON def. BYRON, SHULTZ, OVERLANDPARK, KS, 1 up

Round: Final

McBRIDE, MARK, LEBANON def. JOHNSEN, LEN, OVERLAND PARK, KS, 1 up