Masters awards exemption to NCAA champion Gordon Sargent
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By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
The Masters is extending an invitation to NCAA champion Gordon Sargent. Sargent is now a sophomore at Vanderbilt. He won the NCAA title last year in a four-man playoff and is regarded as one of the elite college golfers. He’s No. 3 in the amateur ranking. Augusta National has a long history of looking after elite amateurs. But Sargent is the first amateur to get a special invitation since 18-year-old Aaron Baddeley in 2000 after Baddeley won the Australian Open. The Masters also gave an invitation to Kazuki Higa of Japan. He won the Japan tour money title last year.