Lee Reed Wins Second Mid-Amateur

Sixteen years ago, in his early 30’s, Lee Reed etched his name on Hiskey Family Cup. In the time since, his record at IGA Championships has been riddled with close calls.  

One of those close calls came in 2020 at Jackpot Golf Course. Tied for the lead on the 18th green, Reed three putt to miss a playoff with Brady Stanger. This year, on that very same green, Reed had a sizable putt from the fringe and left it no less than four feet short of the hole. His second effort snuck passed the left edge.  

“When I did that I had some emotions going because I didn’t look at the scoreboard,” Reed said. “I thought that it was going to be the same type of deal. 

“It was just relief when I found out I just got him by one.”  

Reed cleaned up his bogey on the last with room to spare, cementing a one-stroke victory over 2023 Champion Jesse Hibler and Jacob Boyce. This is Reed’s second IGA title of the season, winning the Master-40 Match Play in June.  

Over the course of a classically wind-whipped week in Jackpot, Reed turned out to be the only player at level par or better. After an opening round of 70, the former Texas A&M player led Burke Spensky, Dan Potter, and Jacob Boyce by a single stroke, with Blake Reifsnyder rounding out the top five at even par.  

Spensky, Potter and Reed stayed put on day two with rounds of even par, while Boyce made birdie at the last to join the lead at two-under par. Hibler shot the round of the tournament, a three-under 69, to move within four of the lead after opening with 77. Gilbert Livas, who also opened with 77, shot 70 to get within five.  

Hibler and Livas continued their good play in the final round, but the results ultimately hinged on the play of Boyce and Reed in the final group. After a back-and-forth front nine, Boyce found himself two shots clear after a par save on the 13th.  

On the 14th, a blind, drivable par-4 up the hill, Reed hit his tee shot 20 feet under the hole in the fringe short of the green. Boyce missed wide left, leaving himself a difficult, short-sided pitch. Reed two-putt for birdie. Boyce three-putt for bogey. Suddenly they were all square with four to play.  

After another bogey on the par-5 15th, Boyce had fallen one-stroke behind for the first time all day. Another bogey at the 16th left Boyce two back with two to play.  

With Boyce unable to make a move, Reed three putt the final green, just as he did in 2020 — but this time he had the shots to spare.