2022 AG San Diego South Amateur Champion Marc Engellenner
On historic grounds at one of San Diego’s most storied clubs, it was course knowledge that proved to pay dividends on Tuesday afternoon.
Marc Engellenner, a native of Rocklin, Calif., fired 68 in his closing round of the AmateurGolf.com San Diego Amateur, including two crucial birdies on the par-5 14th and 16th holes, to secure a two-shot victory. He attributed about a half dozen rounds at San Diego Country Club over the years to his success.
“It’s so critical that you’re in the correct pocket of the green if you’re going to make any score less than par,” Engellenner said of the club’s notoriously-challenging greens.
The only player to finish the 36-hole event in red figures, the 44-year old trailed first-round leader
Kyle Kinnane by five prior to his 9:30 a.m. tee time on an unseasonably warm San Diego day. But he found himself in the proper areas of the green and saw putts begin to fall as a result.
Engellenner’s 68 is even more impressive when you consider the two double-bogeys that were marked on his closing nine’s scorecard on Monday. He moved past what he called “preventable” mistakes and won his fifth event since the beginning of 2021.
Most notably, he fired an unreal 62 on the final day of the Sacramento City Championship to claim the tournament’s 100th running. He also picked up wins at the Dixie Amateur (Mid-Master Division) as well as the Tony Lema Amateur to wrap up his individual feats. He teamed up to capture the Trans-Miss Four-Ball title with
Domingo Jojola, one of three Northern California mid-amateur talents that Engellenner says have helped improve his game.
“I ran into a new circle of friends that played more of the state-level championships, specifically Domingo Jojola,
Brett Viboch, and
Bobby Bucey,” Engellenner said. “Playing against those guys every week and every tournament really showed me where I’m weak, and so I spent the last 18 months comparing myself to some of the best players in Northern California.
“That’s really sharpening your swords against those guys.”
A trio of players finished in a tie for second place at 1-over par, including a pair of Long Beach State teammates.
Bryce Kvick and
Tyler Schafer shot identical scores of 74 and 71 to join
Kyle Dougherty, who posted 73-72.
Kinnane, a senior at Loyola Marymount University, stumbled on the back nine as his 4-over par 40 dropped him into a tie for sixth with
Jack Townsend,
Davis McDowell, and
Evan Peterson.
Senior, Net and Super Senior Divisions
In the Senior Division, it was
Dennis Martin who fired the only under-par round in his flight to run away with a three-stroke victory. Martin, who qualified for the 2021 U.S. Amateur and was the field’s oldest participant, channeled the experience he gained from that accomplishment to push through a rough stretch on his inward nine.
“When I qualified [for the U.S. Amateur], I finished strong,” Martin said. “So I knew today when I started leaking oil that I could turn it around.”
Dennis Martin Martin went on to birdie two out of the last three holes after a wild outward nine that featured three birdies, two bogeys, and an eagle. Having never played the course before, he certainly soaked in as much as he could during Monday’s 77 to turn the page to Tuesday with a renewed sense of knowledge.
“I just kept hitting it past the hole yesterday and you can’t be above the hole,” he said. “So today was an exercise in staying below the hole.”
San Diego Country Club member
Don Eklund, the day one leader, finished runner-up to Martin and also secured the Super Senior crown at 6-over par 150.
Matt Brody took the Net Division with rounds of 73 and 77 while Chula Vista local
Baley Castro finished four shots back in second place.
Tournament Notes
On the 18th green, the pin was tucked ten feet from the left edge, making it nearly impossible to get close from the deep bunker below. No problem for Elijah Peterson as he blasted out to the fringe and watched his ball trickle in for birdie.
"It was the shot of my life," Peterson said. "And in my first tournament ever."
Carlsbad Kids: Ben Gould and Vincent Fanucchi are from different high schools in Carlsbad, but today they matched feats on the par-4 17th. Gould (Carlsbad H.S., 2020) holed out a 60-degree wedge for eagle, and Fanucchi (Sage Creek H.S., 2021) playing from a bit farther out, did the exact same thing.
ABOUT THE AGC San Diego Amateur
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TOUR
PORTAL
The San Diego Amateur has a new location, the
Steele
Canyon Golf Club. Steele Canyon is a
dramatic layout with three distinct nines and picture-
postcard views.
Your entry fee includes 2 rounds of golf, cart fee,
range
balls, prizes,
trophies for division winners, and
the opportunity to play two days at Golf Digest’s
prestigious “4-½ Star Award" and nationally
recognized
as one of Southern California’s best publicly
accessible
golf courses in a competitive setting. Championship,
Senior, and Net divisions.
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. Net players will
play in the Net Division but from a shorter tee.
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