John Daly II Wins Southern Amateur in Arkansas

John Daly II, a rising Arkansas senior and son of two-time major champion John Daly, won the 119th Southern Amateur at Blessings Golf Club with a 10-under-par 278, five shots ahead of Garrett Endicott. He was the only player to shoot under par in all four rounds (70, 71, 69, 68), finishing with decisive birdies on holes 16 and 17. The victory secures Daly an automatic spot in the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club in San Francisco this August. Arkansas teammates Thomas Curry and Camden Smith tied for third, with Smith taking third after a scorecard playoff, bolstered by multiple eagles and a hole-in-one. Daly's win adds to his streak of consecutive top-15 finishes in other Elite Amateur Golf Series events. The victory at his home course was especially meaningful, supported by a crowd of friends and teammates.