The sensation was not only because he entered that week having finished 62nd out of 64 in the strokeplay qualifier, making him a complete long-shot for the win, but more so because his final match against compatriot Doug Ghim took 37 holes to determine a winner and produced one of the most exciting finishes in the tournament's 120 year+ history.

After a very tightly contested match, Doc found himself trailing 2 down after 34 holes - the final of the U.S. Amateur Championship is played in matchplay format over 36 holes - before sinking an incredible eagle putt from 60 feet to cut the lead in half. He then followed those heroics with a birdie on 18 to force a playoff which he won convincingly on Riviera's iconic 10th hole for the most important trophy in amateur golf. "It was a gutsy performance today and all about never giving up and believing in myself,” the Clemson Tiger said after it was all over.

Being asked about his unusual first name in the press conference shortly afterwards, the newly crowned U.S. Amateur Champion had no idea: "I don't know either. You would have to ask my dad!”

So, his father John grabbed the mic to explain the thought process that went into choosing that name: "He was Doc from conception. There was never a time before he was born that he wasn't Doc. Even if he was a girl, he would've been Doc. It's not even a nickname. Not even close. It's always been perfect.”

Three weeks later, Doc teamed up with Ghim and future multiple Major-winner, Collin Morikawa, amongst others, to win the 2017 Walker Cup in dominating fashion against an overwhelmed team from Great Britain & Ireland.

Before turning pro in May 2018, Doc played his first Masters at Augusta National alongside defending champion Sergio Garcia where he had a front row seat to one of the strangest incidents in recent Masters history when the Spaniard hit five consecutive shots into the water on the 15th hole.

"I just wanted one of those to stay up for him, really. Even the first one, any of them. You don't want that to happen to anyone. It was very difficult to watch,” he commented after his first ever round at a Major Championship.

By turning pro, he forfeited his exemptions into the 2018 U.S. Open and 2018 Open Championship - which he earned via his U.S. Amateur win - but wasted no time playing as a professional by finishing solo second in the 2019 Rocket Mortgage Classic after shooting a 62 in the event's Monday qualifier.

That strong showing earned Doc Special Temporary Membership on the PGA Tour, before he ultimately earned enough points to secure full status and membership on the PGA TOUR for the following season.

Doc enjoyed another successful season in 2021, qualifying for the FedEx Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive year. En route to the playoffs, Doc recorded four top-10s, including a T2 at the Palmetto Championship.

After the work on the golf course is done, the passionate Carolina Hurricanes fan is still closely connected to his alma mater and especially the Clemson Tigers sports programmes, as well as being very interested in the stock market. No wonder, having received an outstanding Freshman Award from the College of Science's department of mathematical sciences while studying actuarial math at Clemson.