Alabama's Cory Whitsett wins All-America Golf Classic

Alabama sophomore Cory Whitsett outlasted Missouri’s Jace Long in a three-hole playoff to claim the 2011 Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic title at the El Paso Country Club on Tuesday afternoon.

Whitsett, Long and San Diego State’s Todd Baek entered a three-way playoff finishing seven-under-par after three rounds. Whitsett’s and Long’s birdies on the first playoff hole at the 18^th forced a second playoff hole on the first. A pair of pars sent them back to the first for the third playoff hole where Whitsett drained a 20-foot birdie for the win.

The sophomore shot 68 for the day after opening competition with back-to-back rounds of 69 on Monday for a total of 206. He entered the final round in third while Long, who led through most of the day, began the third round in second.

Whitsett became the Crimson Tide’s second golfer to win the All-American golf title in three years. Hunter Hamrick, who finished tied for ninth this year, won the event in 2009. The tournament’s first ever champion in 1974, Jerry Pate, also hailed from Alabama.

It was the 12^th playoff in tournament history. In all, 12 of the 27 golfers finished par or better in the tournament. The field averaged a 72.12 stroke average for the tournament.

2011 All-American Results