Campillo captures Spanish Amateur crown

Ever since his eighth birthday, IU senior Jorge Campillo has been battling against his countrymen of Spain on the golf course.

At the Spanish National Amateur Championship last week, Campillo got the better of all of them, winning in dominant fashion by five strokes.

Campillo said that growing up in Caceres, Spain, he dreamed of winning this tournament.

“When I was little I always wanted to win the Spanish Amateur,” he said in an e-mail. “Now I have it and I can’t be happier.”

Campillo said the win is also special because it is the tournament of his country and his name will be in the Spanish federation books forever.

Campillo shot rounds of 70, 67, 72, and 70 to capture the individual title. His round of 67 represented the tournament’s second-lowest total as he also finished as one of only two players to shoot under par for the tournament. For the tournament, he shot a nine-under par 279 total score.

After his second place finish in the NCAA tournament in May, Campillo has had a productive summer.

A day after his All-American performance in the NCAA tournament, he went to Ohio to compete in a qualifier for the U.S. Open. Although he missed qualifying by four strokes, he has not been slowed down since.

The next challenge was at the British Amateur where he advanced to the quarterfinals after match play. He also helped the European team beat the Americans in the Palmer Cup.

Through his play during the school year and the summer Campillo has earned the ranking of number two amateur golfer in the world behind only Ricky Fowler of Oklahoma State.

One of Campillo’s teammates, senior Drew Allenspach, is excited about Campillo’s play.

“The guy is a stud,” Allenspach said. “He is playing with so much confidence.”
Allenspach and other teammates of Campillo have formed a bond over their years at IU and many are interested in the Spanish language Campillo speaks fluently.
When he came to IU, Allenspach studied Spanish, but helped Campillo with his English. Campillo in turn helped Allenspach with his Spanish.

Campillo has had the chance to travel all over the world playing golf, and still is not done for the summer. He will be competing in the European Amateur as well as other tournaments.

Campillo said that the travel has not been very difficult and that he enjoys it and playing golf at the same time.

IU assistant coach Josh Brewer feels that this travel has helped Campillo improve his game.

“He’s matured a lot over the last three years,” Brewer said. “I think playing all over the world has helped him.”

In less than a month Campillo will be reunited with his teammates who will look to improve on their 21st place finish at the NCAA tournament.

IU coaches Mike Mayer and Brewer have put together a challenging schedule, one that Brewer said will help the team feel more comfortable in high pressure situations.

Allenspach believes that this group has a chance to be a top 10 team, something he said he could not say of any other team he has been on.

One of the main reasons is Campillo’s play, which Allenspach thinks has grown and improved greatly over his years at IU.

“A key reason of what he has been able to accomplish is he lays it all out there on the line,” Allenspach said.