University of Washington senior Nick Taylor came in to the 2009 as the No. 1 ranked amateur in the world.

And he then proceeded to take the No. 1 seed from stroke play all the way to the 36-hole championship finals Saturday against left-hander Brad Benjamin.

From there, Benjamin did the rest, rocking Taylor, 7-and-6, in the finals at the Jimmmie Austion OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla.

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Benjamin, who led 4-up after 18 holes in the scheduled 36-hole final, applied the pressure to Taylor immediately in the afternoon, winning the 19th hole by hitting his approach shot on the 468-yard par-4 first hole to within 3-feet for birdie, which was conceded by Taylor. Benjamin continued his aggressive play, matching Taylor's birdie on the 621-yard par-5 fifth hole, the 24th of the match, and then surging ahead with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 175-yard par-3 sixth hole to go 6-up on the 25th hole of the match.

“That was the start I needed,” said Benjamin. “That was the thing I was most concerned about was going back out, obviously the momentum could go his way. If I can beat him basically 4-up on first 18, sorry, anything could happen. Obviously he's twice the player I am, on paper at least, if not more than that. If I can do that to him, he can do the same.”

Benjamin birdied the 437-yard par-4 11th hole to go 7-up and dormie in the match and then closed out Taylor, 7 and 6, by hitting his tee shot the 164-yard par-3 12th hole to within 8 inches of the hole. When Taylor conceded the putt, the match was over and Benjamin became the 2009 champion.

“I played well the entire week, and to be in the final and lose is definitely disappointing,” said Taylor. “But Brad played unbelievable in the afternoon. Pretty much did to me what I did to the other guys coming in to this match play.”