A despondent John Peterson walked off the 18th green at last season’s Southeastern Conference Championship with his head hanging low.
After leading for 53 of the 54 holes, Peterson had to duke it out with Florida’s Andres Echavarria in a playoff after Echavarria birdied the final hole of the tournament.
Peterson and Echavarria both got on the green in regulation, but Peterson three-putted the SEC Championship title away.
“That was tough to take,” Peterson said in his low, smooth Southern drawl.
Weeks later, he missed out on a chance to compete as an amateur in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the same heartbreaking playoff fashion.
“John really played great at the SEC [Championship], and I felt for him in the playoff,” said former LSU golfer Andrew Loupe in a text message. “It was great to see him win a national championship. I was and still am extremely happy for him, and he has a bright future ahead of