UNLV’s Ernst rallies, comes up just short in U.S Publinx final

Down by four holes with 11 to play, UNLV golfer Derek Ernst not only managed to climb back into the title match of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship on Saturday in Bandon, Ore., he briefly grabbed the lead.

The senior-to-be just couldn't hold onto it.

Qualifying medalist Corbin Mills of Clemson tied the match on the 35th hole, halved the 36th hole and won it on the 37th with a 5-foot par putt. The 21-year-old from Easley, S.C., became the first qualifying medalist to win the Public Links title in 11 years.

Ernst, the Mountain West Conference's 2011 Golfer of the Year, was hoping to become the third UNLV player to win the Public Links championship. Warren Schutte won it in 1992, and Ryan Moore was a two-time winner, in 2002 and 2004.

Instead, the 21-year-old Ernst, of Clovis, Calif., joined former Rebel Chris Riley (1994) as a Public Links runner-up.

"It was tough out there, but it was a fun week," Ernst said. "Mentally, it's a long day. You start at 7:15 in the morning, and with 36 holes to play, you know there's going to be a lot of ups and downs.

"But even though I didn't win, I showed I am capable of winning big tournaments. I have a lot of confidence in my game, and I've worked very hard to improve, so it's nice to see that hard work pay off."

Ernst and Mills reached the green in two on the sudden-death hole -- the 341-yard, par-4 No. 1 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort's Old Macdonald Course -- with Ernst 50 feet away and Mills 30 feet from the hole.

Putting first, Ernst rolled his attempt 10 feet past, and Mills' winning try came within 5 feet. Ernst then watched his par putt spin out, and Mills followed by calmly sinking his putt for the victory.

Mills was in control early, going 3-up through eight holes. But Ernst chipped away, winning holes 9 and 10, then pulling even at 13.

However, he was unable to sustain the momentum and was 2-down going into the final 18 holes.

Mills then went up by four with 11 to play. But in a dramatic turnaround, Ernst went on a huge run, winning five consecutive holes to lead for the first time.

"I knew I was four down, but I also knew I still had a lot of golf left," Ernst said. "I was just trying to win every hole, and when I beat him at (No. 9), I got some momentum and I was able to get back into the match."

Battling chilly conditions created by winds that gusted to 35 mph, Ernst was 1-up heading to the 35th hole.

But on that hole, he twice landed in bunkers and took bogey, allowing Mills to square the match. It stayed that way until Ernst's 10-footer narrowly missed and Mills' 5-footer went in.

"I couldn't have hit that last putt any better," Ernst said. "It just didn't drop. But that's golf. Even when you think you're doing everything right, sometimes it comes out wrong.

"But it was a great week for me. My swing worked well. I was able to use my ingenuity and creativity, and my putting was good. I made it to the final match and lost in sudden death to a very good player. There's not much I can really complain about."

In the women's final, UCLA's Brianna Do rallied to beat Texas high school star Marissa Dodd, 1-up.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.