Pictured L-R: Champion Taylor Myers, Women's Champ Haley Moore
Senior winner Ed Susolik, and Net champ Walter Sabati
CARLSBAD, Calif. (Dec. 19, 2016) -- Taylor Myers of Novato won the AmateurGolf.com San Diego County Amateur today at Aviara with a two round total of even-par 144.
Myers, who is taking a break from college to focus on his golf game, broke his driver during the practice round and went with a 3-wood off the tee all weekend. The 3-wood strategy paid off with a 3-under 69 in Sunday's opening round, but looked a little shaky after the first tee shot today.
"Yup, I had 6-iron in on No. 1," joked Myers, who popped up his opening shot well short of the 150 marker, but dead center of the fairway.
Myers went on to make par and shoot 37 on the front nine, then birdied the difficult par-3 11th, to get back to par on the tournament. Three bogeys coming home, including one to close out the tournament on the difficult 18th, left the door open more than Myers would have liked. But in the end he was the only player in the Championship flight to post par, as high school golfer Ricky Castillo (Yorba Linda) and Corey Shaun (Encinitas) finished a stroke back at 1-over 145.
SENIOR DIVISION
Starting the day six strokes behind leader Jeff Britton after posting an 80, Ed Susolik found something on Monday. Actually it wasn't just one thing, it was seven things. And they were all birdies. Susolik, an attorney from Newport Beach, had the "honor" of starting on the watery par-3 11th, and he did more than get the hole over with -- he grabbed a birdie two. He went on to birdie three more holes (Nos. 16, 1, and 4) before lighting it up to finish the round with three-straight on Nos. 8-10.
What a way to finish. And the best part, he needed to "tweet" on each one of those last three holes, as Don Elklund of San Diego was posting another round of 75 to finish at 150, one behind Susolik. Tom McKee of Carlsbad added a nice 73 to his first round 78 to finish solo third, while former UCLA and Washington football coach Rick Neuheisel of Manhattan Beach and Jeff Britton tied for 4th at 153. Neuheisel posted 73 on Monday, while first round leader Britton shot 79.
WOMEN DIVISION
Haley Moore of Escondido had a magical first round of 65, and an eight-shot lead to go with it. Today she got challenged by Amy Matsuoka of Newport Beach. But eight-strokes is a lot to make up, and Moore's 75 left her at a very impressive 4-under for the tournament.
Matsuoka, a neighbor of Senior champ Ed Susolik, fired 2-under 70 to make things much closer than expected. Indeed Matsuoka's rounds of 73-70 put her at 1-under par, an excellent showing. Also coming back today was Sarah Lawrence, our defending champ, posted 73 to finish at 153 and alone in third place.
NET DIVISION
In the Net Division, Walter Sabati (Las Vegas) posted 159 to take the title over Dave Davidson (Rancho Cucamonga) and Frank Angelo (Moraga). Angelo also grabbed a closest-to-the-pin, competing not just against net players, but all 100 players in the tournament.
The others were won by Kyle Rector, Declan Kenny (No. 6), and Forbes Collins. Collins' shot on No. 14, the toughest par-3 on the course, was to 18 inches.
ABOUT THE AGC San Diego Amateur
>>
TOUR PORTAL
*An SCGA Points Event*
The San Diego Amateur returns to Aviara Golf
Club in Carlsbad. Once again we are going to
be
treated like pros at one of the best venues in
Southern
California, Aviara Golf Club -- as seen on TV
during the LPGA's Kia Classic played in March!
This is a gross competition with
Championship,
Senior and Net divisions.
Your entry fee includes 2 rounds of golf with
cart, prizes, trophies for division winners, and
the
opportunity to play a Tour-proven golf course
in
a
competitive setting. Special rates for practice
rounds
and
lodging will be offered.
DIVISIONS
CHAMPIONSHIP
For players aged 16 and over who have a
USGA or
equivalent index of less than 5.5
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
For players age 50 and over (as of the
tournament
date) with a handicap index of less than 8.0.
Note:
Must be 55 and over for NCGA Senior Points.
NET
For players 16 and over with handicap
between 5.5
and 18.0.
MID-AM (subdivision of Championship)
For players age
25-
49. Compete alongside the younger players in
the
Championship Division, (same tees, same
prize
opportunities) and if there are at least six Mid-
Ams,
a
separate prize and trophy will be awarded.
SUPER SENIORS (subdivision of Senior)
For players age
65+. Compete alongside the younger senior
players
in
the
Senior Division, (same tees, same prize
opportunities) and if there are at least six
players 65
or
over, a
separate prize and trophy will be awarded for
low
super senior.
WOMEN (subdivision of Championship)
Will play in the
Championship
Division but
from a shorter tee. If there are at least six
women in
the field, a separate prize and trophy will be
awarded.
View Complete Tournament Information