GOLF / U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP : It’s Fun and Games for Leonard in Final, 8 and 7

Justin Leonard sounded as though he was just in from a casual round of golf instead of one that allowed him to follow in the footsteps of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Bobby Jones as U.S. Amateur champion.

“It was a lot of fun,” Leonard said Monday after taking control early in an 8 and 7 victory over Thomas Scherrer at Dublin, Ohio. “It didn’t seem like a lot of work.

“Today I felt like I had a lot of control. I could pretty much place the ball where I wanted to. I can really only think of a couple of shots that I missed.”

The margin was the largest in an Amateur final since 1983.

Leonard, a junior at the University of Texas, hit 25 of 29 greens and chipped in on two of the greens he missed.

The victory meant Leonard will be paired with another Texas golf legend, U.S. Open champion Tom Kite, at next year’s U.S. Open at Baltusrol. Kite was on hand for part of the final match after tying for 16th Sunday in the World Series of Golf.

“I don’t know him very well, but I’ve got a feeling we’re going to get to know each other a little better,” Leonard said laughing.

Leonard was 5-up through the first 18 holes of the 36-hole final. He never trailed after winning the second hole.

Scherrer, who played at the University of North Carolina, won three holes, and Leonard won 11.

Leonard, 20, was five under par, 11 shots better than Scherrer.

“I ran into a great player,” said Scherrer, who said he would make up his mind this week whether to turn pro. “Justin played great, and he didn’t make many mistakes. I didn’t play well, but I’m not too disappointed.”

Leonard’s margin matched that of Jay Sigel in a victory over Chris Perry nine years ago.