South African amateur star Jovan Rebula defeated Auburn Tiger Graysen Huff in a 4-hole playoff to win the 2019 Southeastern Conference individual title.
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Rebula is the fifth Auburn Tiger all-time to be crowned as the conference’s individual champion, and the first since Patton Kizzire won in 2007.
‘This is a true honour,’ Rebula said.
‘Coming from South Africa, I did not know what the SEC was until I started playing, and seeing the number of great players, to have my name on that board is truly an honour.
‘It is a little bittersweet because Graysen and I are close friends. I have a ton of respect for his golf and as a person. He’s a great leader for our team. He always does the right thing. He’s a great friend and an unbelievable teammate.’
Rebula, who trailed by two strokes entering the final round, fired a 3-under 67 to put himself in the lead with one hole left as Huff began the 18th hole.
Huff set himself up with an approach shot that put him 15-feet from the hole. Sitting one stroke behind his teammate, the junior stepped up and sank the birdie to send the title to a playoff.
Both players carded pars on the first three playoff holes.
On the 22nd hole of the day and fourth playoff hole, Rebula turned in a birdie and sealed the title with a long putt to join Jimmy Green (1991), Bryant MacKellar (1997), Roland Thatcher (2000) and Kizzire (2007) as Auburn golfers to win the SEC individual crown.
Unfortunately, the South African and his teammates were defeated 7-1 in the final of the Team competition against seventh-seeded Arkansas.
Credit: Auburn Tigers website
