Story By Heath Hambrick

Staring at a four-hole deficit heading to the eighth tee Sunday at Terrapin Hills Country Club, JP Groat battled back to capture the 2025 Alabama State Match Play Championship. The final match of the Championship, Groat faced off with current Alabama Crimson Tide golfer Jackson Mitchell. 

Despite the crowd that was following the final match being for Groat, Mitchell built a 4-up lead by birding three of the first seven holes. Groat played steady golf during Mitchell’s fast start, missing a few short putts that could have cut into the lead. 

After both players made par on the eighth, Groat knew he needed just one thing to go his way. 

“I missed short puts on four and six that could have led to those holes being heaved. I knew I just needed something to go my way and have an excellent back nine, and I could get back into the match,” said Groat. 

On the 360-yard par-4 ninth, Groat finally found that something to go his way, a birdie on the hole as Mitchell missed his birdie putt. Groat was now 3-down with nine holes to play. 

Groat and Mitchell record pars on the par-3 tenth. Then the round took off for Groat as he hit his drive to within a hundred yards of the green, which set up his iron shot from the middle of the fairway. His second shot landed 12 feet from the pin. Groat birdied the hole to be two down to Mitchell. 

Groat went on to birdie the par-5 12th to get to just one down with six holes to play. Both Groat and Mitchell made par on the par-3 13th. 

“The stretch from 11 to 13 was where things clicked for me,” said Groat. 

As the pair reached the 14th hole, Groat was able to take control of the match. A drive down the middle of the fairway and an iron shot to the center of the green put the pressure on Mitchell, causing him to overshoot the green and then miss judge his third shot, giving him a bogey. Mitchell told Groat to pick up his ball, giving Groat a birdie and tying the match with four holes remaining. 

Groat and Mitchell each made par on the 15th, then on the 16th, Groat made an outstanding birdie putt from 15 feet while Mitchell missed his birdie putt from just inside six feet, giving Groat the lead that he wouldn’t relinquish. 

Both players recorded birdie's on 17 and par's on 18, giving Groat his first Alabama Golf Association victory. A victory that comes at a place that is special to the Groat family. 

“It’s so special. The level of support I receive from the people here is incredible. It’s extraordinary. And for it to be where my dad played, where I grew up, and a place my great-grandfather built. I’ve been playing here since I was five years old,” said Groat. 

The match showcased the player that Groat has become and what is to come from the Fort Payne senior. 

“JP had an outstanding weekend. He really played well against some outstanding competition. To be 4 down after 7 in the championship match, and make 6 birdies in the last 11 holes to win, showed a lot of toughness and resiliency. He has matured so much over the last year, and that showed up on Sunday afternoon,” said Fort Payne Head Coach Chris Elmore. 

On Sunday morning, Groat had to fight back to win his semi-final match on the first extra and defeat Jace Duckworth 1-up. 

On Saturday, Groat won his first round match 3 & 2 over Richard Douglas and then faced Fort Payne native Will McCurdy in a match that didn’t disappoint. 

Groat and McCurdy had a great following during their quarterfinal match that didn’t want to end. It took 21 holes to find out which Fort Payne native was going to play on Sunday. 

On the 17th hole, McCurdy took a 1-up lead, but then Groat answered with a birdie on 18 to force extra holes. Groat parred the 21st hole while McCurdy made a bogey. The entire match was unique, as during the match play championship, players are allowed to have a cart, and Groat and McCurdy decided to ride in the same cart. 

“This match was probably one of my tougher opponents. I look up to (Will) McCurdy. I think that was some of the best golf I've ever played. I knew whoever won that match was going to have a good chance of winning the championship,” said Groat.  

Groat, now, will take this victory into his senior year of high school and his final season of high school golf this coming spring. Groat will compete in one more event this fall before the high school season begins in March.