A bogey on the final hole was the all that separated Illinois men’s golfer Nick Hardy from the Saguaro Amateur title. Texas Tech’s Wes Artac won the tournament after shooting a 71 in the final round.

Hardy and Artac were tied with a six-stroke lead at 9-under through 45 holes. But then the Illini golfer’s score bounced up and down. He bogeyed the par 4 10th hole — his second time doing so in the tournament — and also bogeyed two of his next four holes. 

With three holes remaining, Artac had a two-stroke lead.

Hardy birdied holes 16 and 17, while Artac had one bogey and par in that span, giving Hardy a one-shot lead. Artac birdied and Hardy bogeyed the final hole and the Red Raider sophomore beat the Illini sophomore by a single stroke.

Hardy’s second-round 65 was the best single round of any golfer at the tournament.

The second-place finish was Hardy’s best of the 2015-16 season thus far.

[email protected]

@32Ryno