NEW LONDON, N.C. (Seminoles.com) – John Pak has achieved yet another monumental feat.
Going through arguably the great single year by an FSU golfer ever, he added to his lore by winning an ACC title after shooting 13-under overall (67-67-69) at the ACC Championship held at Old North State Club in New London, N.C.
Pak sunk about a two-foot putt on the par-5 18th hole to seal his individual championship, becoming the second Seminole to win an ACC title. He joins FSU Golf Alum Jonas Blixt in the esteemed category, as Blixt was the individual champion of the conference in 2007.
“We told him to play the golf course, because there’s so many good players in this field,” FSU head coach Trey Jones told the ACC Network Extra crew afterward. “All he could do was control where he was, and he went out and hit every fairway and every green.”
As a team, the Seminoles tied for fourth at 12-under (278-285-289), playing on a very windy day which made for a difficult course to attack. But the day belonged to Pak, who entered Saturday’s final round in second place behind tournament leader Andy Ogletree of Georgia Tech.
But Ogletree wound up shooting a 1-over 73, while Pak capitalized with a 3-under 69. The native of Scotch Plains, N.J., now has 10 consecutive rounds in the 60s. Over half of his 29 rounds (15 of 29) have been shot in the 60s.
“He plays to win and he attacks all day long,” Jones added. “He’s not timid or cautious at all. There wasn’t any ‘Can I miss it right? Can I miss it left?’ He’s on a run right now where he’s playing good every tournament that he’s in.”
Pak edged Ogletree (-12) by one stroke, followed by Bryson Nimmer of Clemson (-11), David Morgan of Virginia (-10) and Thomas Walsh of Virginia (-9). Georgia Tech would go on to win the team title handily at 37-under.
Pak only had one bogey in his final round, and it came on 434-yard par 4 hole on the 15th. Clinging to just a one-shot lead, he turned around and birdied the 16th hole – a par 4, 427-yarder, which proved to be his biggest hole of the tournament.
Pak would then par each of the remaining two holes to close out the ACC Championship. Despite internalizing his excitement after sinking his short putt, his teammates chose to go the celebratory route with several hugs and high fives as he walked off the hole.
Junior Jamie Li shot a final-round 74 and tied for 27th at even-par for the championship. Seniors Bennett Baker (T29, +1) and Corey Carlson (T47, +7) closed out their final appearance at the ACC Championship. Freshman Calvin Sierota shot 7-over and tied for 47th.
The Seminoles will find out their NCAA Tournament seeding with the Division I Men’s Golf Selection Show on Wednesday, May 1, at 9 p.m. on the Golf Channel.
