Chez Reavie, 19, of Mesa, Ariz., outlasted USA Walker Cup Team competitor Danny Green, 44, of Jackson, Tenn., in 38 holes to win the 2001 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Pecan Valley Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas. Reavie was a sophomore-to-be at Arizona State University, and he joined past Sun Devils John Jackson and Billy Mayfair as an APL champion. Reavie joined the PGA Tour in 2008 after finishing 18th on the Nationwide Tour (now Web.com Tour) money list. His lone PGA Tour win came at the 2008 RBC Canadian Open, although he did lose in a playoff at the 2011 Deutsche Bank Championship to future U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson.
What did winning the APL do for your career?
I think winning the Public Links was one of the most important things that has happened to me in golf. It opened up a whole world for me. Not only did I get [invited] to play in the Masters, but I was in the U.S. Amateur, the Western Am, the Porter Cup, the Sunnehanna ... I was just a freshman in college and that was a great experience, all from that win.
What do you remember about your championship match against Danny Green?
I remember learning a lot during that final. Danny didn't have the prettiest swing, but he could play. And he really showed me how important the short game is. He was difficult to beat because he could really chip and putt. I was down after 18 holes and was very fortunate to win. I hit it good and I also putted well.
What was your mindset going into the 36-hole final?
I remember after each of us won our semifinal matches, [Green] was saying that all the pressure was on me, because he already had played in the Masters. He showed up for the final wearing a Masters shirt and I just laughed. I knew what he was doing. It just made me that much more determined.
What are your thoughts about the APL being retired after this year?
I think it's disappointing it's going away. It was really instrumental in my career. I got to experience amazing things because of that, and other guys who have won it would say the same thing. You look at all the guys who have won it over the years, it's a pretty strong group, and it makes you think going forward all the players who will not have the same opportunities, who will not get to play in the Masters and all those other events. That's really a shame.
David Shedloski is an Ohio-based freelance writer whose work has previously appeared on USGA websites.