7/20/25

(Sunriver, OR) For the first time in 53 years, the PNGA Men’s Amateur Championship has a back-to-back champion. Bend, Oregon’s Sam Renner, also a senior at Washington State, won the title for the second straight year over the University of Michigan’s Nilay Naik.

In the first 18 holes, Renner got off to a torrid start. Renner was 5 Up after eight holes. Renner won the first hole, Naik tied it up on the third, then Renner won the fourth through eighth holes. Renner won the 10th and 11th holes to claim a 7 Up advantage. Naik won the 17th hole as Renner’s lead was 6 Up going to the second 18 holes.

Renner won the 19th hole to go back to a 7 Up lead. Naik went on a run by winning the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd holes to have a 4 Down deficit. Renner won the 26th hole for a 5 Up lead. Naik won the 30th hole to back to 4 Down, but Renner won the 31st hole for a 5 Up lead. Naik won the 14th hole to continue the match, but after tying the 33rd hole, Renner won the match 4 & 3 to successfully defend the championship.

It was fitting that Renner closed it out on the 15th hole on the second 18, as only one match during the prior rounds went past the 15th hole. Renner was the 22-seed this year, after being the 1-seed and medalist last year, winning the title at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla. Renner is ranked 281st in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR). Renner had the lowest single-season scoring average in Washington State history at 70.67. 25 of his 36 rounds were par or better and was the fourth WSU men’s golfer to play in an NCAA Regional as an individual. Renner was selected for the 2025 All-West Coast Conference First Team. Jim McLean was the last player to win the PNGA Men’s Amateur Championship, when he won in 1971 and 1972. Renner is only the sixth player to win back-to-back titles in the championship’s history.

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