Radford University’s Nick Taliaferro made a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday, July 17 to win the State Open of Independence presented by CapTech by one stroke over defending champion Evan Beck of Virginia Beach.
Taliaferro, who grew up minutes from Independence Golf Club, the host of the event, posted a three-day aggregate 10-under-par 203, finishing with a 1-over-par 72 on Sunday. He fended off Beck, who rallied for a 9-under 204 that included a 6-under 65 in Sunday’s final round.
“If you told me a month ago I would win this tournament, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. I wasn’t hitting it well at all,” Taliaferro said. “But since the second round of the State Am, I’ve been playing really well. I don’t know. It’s hard to put it into words. It’s cliché. But it’s obviously a big confidence boost to know I can play against the best players in the state and win.”
