Columbus’ Madden Hatcher III looks back at winning the 1976 U.S. Junior Amateur

Madden Hatcher III didn’t expect much when he qualified for the 1976 U.S. Junior Amateur.

Although he had played on a state championship team at Hardaway High and had advanced to the finals of the Southeastern Amateur, this was a much bigger stage.

“I was kind of in awe,” Hatcher said earlier this week. “I had never played in a national tournament at that point. I had played in the Future Masters (in Dothan, Ala.), which was a big deal, but that was kind of a regional thing.

“I am pretty sure I had never flown anywhere for a golf tournament.”

But Hatcher caught lightning in a bottle that week at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, Colo., winning the championship.

“It was unbelievable,” Hatcher said.

In doing so, Hatcher became the first from Columbus to win a United States Golf Association event. Bill Ploeger became the second when he won the U.S. Senior Amateur in 1998. Ben Carr, a rising junior at Columbus High, will try to become the third when he tees off Monday in the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur.

Although he didn’t expect much, the 16-year-old Hatcher’s confidence grew as he played the two rounds of stroke play and qualified for match play.

After winning the first two rounds of match play, Hatcher faced Robert Wrenn, who would go on to play on the PGA Tour. Wrenn was 4-up on Hatcher through eight holes. But Hatcher rallied to pull out the victory.

“You are not thinking about winning, but you have the feeling that you are playing pretty well. You have made the final eight,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher won his quarterfinal match and faced Steve Jones, who would go on to win the 1996 U.S. Open, in the semifinals.

“Steve and I were kind of in the same position,” Hatcher said. “I can remember standing on the first tee and saying to him ‘you know one of us is going to be in the final.’

“I don’t think either one of us was expecting to be there. I know I wasn’t, and I don’t think he was either.”

Hatcher won easily 5&4 and advanecd to the final to face Doug Clarke of La Jolla, Calif. Clarke was named in 2000 by Sports Illutsrated as one of the top 10 amateurs of all time.

Hatcher took a quick 3-up lead on Clarke as he made four straight pars, while Clarke bogeyed Nos. 2-4. Hatcher’s lead never shrank to less than 2-up.

Hatcher closed out the match on No. 16, winning the title 3&2.

“It was totally unexpected,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher went on to have more success as an amateur. He helped Hardaway win another state title in 1997 and Georgia a Southeastern Conference title in 1982.

But Hatcher had no desire to turn golf into a profession.

“I went to law school, so I didn’t play a lot,” Hatcher said. “I came home to work, so I didn’t play a lot.

“As much as I loved playing and competing, the travel was not for me.”

When first asked to talk about his accomplishment 40 years ago, Hatcher’s first comment was “that was a long time ago.

“I don’t think about it too much. The only time it is brought up is to joke about how long ago it was. It was a long time ago. But it certainly something I am proud of.”

This story was originally published July 16, 2016 at 3:34 PM with the headline "Columbus’ Madden Hatcher III looks back at winning the 1976 U.S. Junior Amateur."