South Bay Championship Results - San Diego Country Club

San Diego Country Club a Tough Test on Windy Day

Chula Vista, CA—The Golf Channel Amateur Tour held the 4^th annual South Bay Championship on Monday at San Diego Country Club.  High winds and the fastest greens in San Diego kept player scoring in check on a great afternoon. 

Roland Rivera has knocked on the door all year.  Come Monday he is now a Tour Champion at arguably the most prestigious course on the 2011 San Diego Tour Schedule.  Rivera, who started on #10, made three birdies on the day en-route to a 1-over par 73 on a difficult day.  Arguably the nicest player on Tour, more than a few players were rooting for Rivera who played solid down the stretch to win for the first time since the Miramar Memorial Championship in 2009.  Long-hitting Matt Christensen of Escondido played great all day thanks to a nice ball-striking performance.  Christensen could not close, however, limping in with a bogey on #17 and a double bogey on #18 to finish in 2^nd place at 2-over par 74.  Defending Champion and 2010 National Champion Don O’Connor got off to a rough start but rebounded to finish in 3^rd place at 3-over par 75.  Akash “Scottie” Patel, playing on his home track, rounded out the top 4 at 76.  Buddy Duncan, playing as a guest, posted a very impressive 2-under par 70 on Monday. 

In the Palmer Flight Ryan Clem of El Cajon keeps on improving with his goal of getting to the Championship Flight in sight.  Clem, who finished in 2^nd place last week at Steele Canyon, fired a good round of 4-over par 76 to claim the South Bay Championship.  Clem, playing at San Diego Country Club for the first time in his career, thought highly of the course which was right up his ally.  Clem grew up in Michigan and enjoyed the traditional, tree-lined layout.  Scot Astor of Carlsbad was the only other player in the flight to break into the 70’s, posting a 79 to wrap up 2^nd place.  Jason Matteson of San Diego and Art Harris of La Mesa tied for 3^rd at 81. 

In the Hogan Flight, Greg Velasquez of La Jolla was able to nab his first win in as many attempts on Monday.  Velasquez, a Tour rookie making his first appearance, played solid to win the flight at 10-over par 82.  Darin Beeghley of San Diego played well and grabbed 2^nd place with an 84, while Scott Goedecke rounded out the top 3 at 85. 

The Sarazen Flight saw some playoff action with Jeffrey Fishel of Chula Vista and Dean Jacobs of Ramona tying for the lead after rounds of 85.  Fishel, a Tour rookie still looking for his first win, went up against Jacobs who was vying for his 3^rd win on the San Diego Tour in 2011 and an exemption into the National Championship.  The playoff lasted one hole, with Jacobs winning on the par 4 18^th.  Tony Anderson and David Swanson tied for 3^rd place at 88. 

Deon Chen opened some eyes on Monday in the Jones Flight.  Chen, who did not break 100 in his first three events on Tour this year in his rookie season, birdied his first two holes and obliterated his competition, firing a most impressive 7-over par 79 to win by eleven shots.  Look for Chen to make his way to the Sarazen Flight in the near future with his impressive performance and improvement on Tour!  Ty Jacob of San Diego finished in 2^nd place at 90. 

Kenneth Shelton successfully three-peated on Monday in a closely contested flight.  Shelton would prevail against his three competitors, posting a nice 99 good for a two shot win. 

The Tour would like to thank all the Tour Players and San Diego Country Club for a great 4^th annual South Bay Championship.  The Tour returns to action on Sunday, June 5 with the BC Championship at Barona Creek Golf Club. 

Top Finishers and Payouts

For full-field scores and photos please visit www.gcamtour.com. 

Championship

73-Roland Rivera ($200 and Trophy)

74-Matt Christensen ($150)

75-Don O’Connor ($125)

76-Akash “Scottie” Patel ($75)

77-Derrick Farino ($50)

78-Bill Borden ($50)

79-Michael Apriceno ($25)

Palmer Flight

76-Ryan Clem ($200 and Trophy)

79-Scot Astor ($100)

81-Jason Matteson ($50)

81-Art Harris ($50)

82-Kris Alandy ($25)

82-Carl Oakley ($25)

Hogan Flight

82-Greg Velasquez ($175 and Trophy)

84-Darin Beeghley ($75)

85-Scott Goedecke ($50)

86-Ed Quinby ($25)

Sarazen Flight

85-Dean Jacobs ($200 and Trophy)*

85-Jeffrey Fishel ($100)

88-Tony Anderson ($50)

88-David Swanson ($50)

Jones Flight

79-Deon Chen ($125 and Trophy)

90-Ty Jacob ($75)

91-Mark Millard ($25)

91-Richard McDaniel ($25)

Snead Flight

99-Kenneth Shelton ($100 and Trophy)

Optional Skins Game Results

Group 1 (Championship & Palmer)

#1-Roland Rivera ($50)

#3-Clete Adelman ($50)

#5-Gary Robinson ($50)

#6-Derrick Farino ($50)

#8-Michael O’Keefe (EAGLE, $50)

#10-Don O’Connor ($50)

#11-Carl Oakley ($50)

#13-Ryan Demirdjian ($50)

#14-Christopher Lipp (EAGLE, $50)

#17-Clete Adelman ($50)

Group 2 (Hogan & Sarazen)

#3-Andrew Bloom ($56)

#6-Yasuhiro Yoshimi ($56)

#7-Jeffrey Fishel ($56)

#10-Dean Jacobs ($56)

#18-Tony Anderson ($56)

Group 3 (Jones & Snead)

#1-Deon Chen ($30)

#2-Deon Chen ($30)

#5-Deon Chen ($30)

#6-Richard McDaniel ($30)

#9-Yuri Pikover ($30)

#10-Randy Kilburn ($30)

#14-Deon Chen ($30)