Rancho Santa Fe Amateur Championship Results

Santaluz Plays Difficult at Rancho Santa Fe Amateur; Playoffs Abound

Rancho Santa Fe, CA—The Golf Channel Amateur Tour held the 5th annual Rancho Santa Fe Amateur Championship on Monday, marking the 3rd year in a row the Tour has been at The Santaluz Club.  Santaluz more then held its own, with difficult native areas and speedy greens.   Four flights saw playoff action, the high number for playoff this season. 
The Championship Flight saw the 2nd 3-way playoff in a month on Tour.  Taylor Massey of Carlsbad, playing in his 1st event on Tour, was 4-under par after eleven holes but had some difficulty getting into the clubhouse.  Massey made a few bogeys coming in, finishing at 2-over par 74 to join Tom Isaak of San Diego and Scott Stevens of Encinitas.  On the first playoff hole, Massey, a very talented player who can hit it very deep, pulled his tee shot into the native area and was eliminated after Isaak and Stevens both hit excellent approach shots and converted their respective birdie putts on the 583 yard par five 1st hole.  The playoff headed to #2, which played as the most difficult hole on the course for the tournament.  Stevens would come up short with his approach shot, hitting into a hazard and a tough lie short of the green on the 442 yard par-four.  Isaak would hit his approach shot brilliantly to 15-feet and looked poised for the win.   Stevens would hit a miraculous recovery pitch from the deep native hazard area to 6 feet.  With Isaak three-putting for bogey, Stevens would bury the 6-footer for par and his 2nd win in as many weeks on Tour.   Stevens looks poised for a strong finish to the season, while Isaak virtually locked up Player of the Year honors with the T2 finish after wins in the San Diego Open and Western Masters this season.  Reigning National Champion Don O’Connor birdied his last hole on Sunday.  Surprisingly still winless this season, O’Connor finished just a stroke back at 75 along with Phil Walker of Rancho Santa Fe. 

The Palmer Flight, like the Championship, also saw a 3-way playoff on Monday.    82 would be the low round shot in this flight, with three players accomplishing this feat.  Kevin Stutts, Michael Mariotti, and Mick Yanoschak would need extra holes as well.  Both Mariotti and Stutts would par the opening playoff hole, with Yanoschak eliminated after an untimely bogey.   Stutts would ultimately prevail, using some likely experience on his way to his 2nd tournament victory of the season.  Mariotti, who was seeking his 1st ever Tour win, will have to wait at least two weeks for another opportunity but did tie for his best finish on Tour to date.  Craig Hagen rounded out the top 4 at 84. 

The Hogan Flight, like the Championship and Palmer Flight, also needed extra holes to determine the champion after Allen Cornwall and Keith Fifield tied with 81’s.  Both players tied with par on the opening playoff hole, with Cornwall getting some unique revenge on 2nd playoff hole.  Cornwall made a “9” on the par-four 2nd hole, which was also the 2nd hole of the playoff.  Getting some revenge, Cornwall improved by five strokes and made par to claim the RSF Championship in the Hogan Flight!  Darin Beeghley continued his hot play of late, finishing in 3rd place at 83. 

In the Sarazen Flight the wins keep on racking up for Dean Jacobs of Ramona.  Jacobs won for the fourth time on Tour this season, claiming the flight by a single stroke over Chris Nayve who was just lucky to be in the field.  Nayve, who was on the waiting list, was able to play after a no-show in the Sarazen Flight on Monday and he took advantage, following up his win last week with a 2nd place finish.  Eric McKay finished in third place at 88. 

The Jones Flight saw some very tight action, with Justin Dang and Randy Kilburn the last two standing at 88.   With Kilburn seeking his 2nd win on Tour and Dang looking for his 1st Tour victory ever, it would be Dang who would return to the clubhouse victorious after the sudden-death playoff. 

Gene Konrad enjoyed the smooth greens and was able to claim the Snead Flight with a round of 95 on Monday to win by a stroke.  Notably, Konrad overcame a score of “12” on the 16th hole and was able hang in there mentally for the win. 

With two players withdrawing from the flight, Art Harris would prevail over three others to claim the Senior Palmer Flight.  Harris was the only player to break into the 70’s, shooting 78 good for the win. 

In the Senior Hogan Flight, Scott Ulrich would be the only player to break into the 80’s and was rewarded with his first win since July of 2009!  Donald Chick finished in 2nd place just two strokes back at 81. 

In the Senior Sarazen Flight Ted Masek would go on to win by a single stroke, besting Ron Henley, 88-89. 
The Tour returns to action on Sunday, August 7 with the Poway Championship at Maderas Golf Club. 

Top Finishers & Results

Championship

74-Scott Stevens ($200 and Trophy)*
74-Tom Isaak ($125)
74-Taylor Massey ($125)
75-Phil Walker ($75)
75-Don O’Connor ($75)
*Won on 2nd playoff hole

Palmer Flight

82-Kevin Stutts ($150 and Trophy)*
82-Michael Mariotti ($75)
82-Mick Yanoschak ($75)
84-Craig Hagen ($25)
*Won on 3rd playoff hole

Hogan Flight

81-Allen Cornwall ($150 and Trophy)*
81-Keith Fifield ($100)
83-Darin Beeghley ($75)
84-Greg Velasquez ($25)
*Won on 2nd playoff hole

Sarazen Flight

83-Dean Jacobs ($150 and Trophy)
84-Chris Nayve ($75)
88-Eric McKay ($25)

Jones Flight

88-Justin Dang ($150 and Trophy)*
88-Randy Kilburn ($50)
*Won on 1st playoff hole

Snead Flight

95-Gene Konrad ($125 and Trophy)

Senior Palmer Flight

78-Art Harris ($150 and Trophy)

Senior Hogan Flight

79-Scott Ulrich ($125 and Trophy)
81-Donald Chick ($50)

Senior Sarazen Flight

88-Ted Masek ($125 and Trophy)
89-Ron Henley ($50)

Optional Skins Game Results

Group 1 (Championship & Palmer)

#2-Gary Robinson ($100)
#8-Adrian Reyes ($100)
#11-Phil Walker ($100)
#14-Dave Nilson ($100)
#17-Jeff Hunter ($100)

Group 2 (Hogan & Sarazen)

#3-John Usilton ($80)
#10-Scott Goedecke ($80)
#12-Ed Quinby ($80)
#13-Allen Cornwall ($80)
#14-Jeffrey Fishel ($80)
#17-Rick Offley ($80)

Group 3 (Jones & Snead)

#2-Randy Kilburn ($20)
#4-Randy Kilburn ($20)
#6-Brian Strate ($20)
#7-Alan Malmquist ($20)
#12-John Tyczki ($20)
#13-Paul Hitchcock ($20)
#14-John Tyczki ($20)
#17-Randy Kilburn ($20)
#18-Larry Boval ($20)

Stevens fires 69 to claim Cal Classic

Stevens fires 69 for first win on Tour;  O’Keefe Claims Palmer Flight in Playoff

Fallbrook, CA—The Golf Channel Amateur Tour held the 2nd annual California Classic at the Golf Club of California on Sunday.  The course was there for the taking with sunny skies and little wind and more than a few players were able to take advantage. 

Scott Stevens of Encinitas claimed his 1st victory on Tour, overtaking the defending champion, Tom Isaak, on the back nine.   Stevens carded five birdies en route to a spectacular closing nine of 32 to take the title at 3-under par 69 in what is sure to be the first of many wins on Tour for this talented player.  Isaak was also able to break par on the day, finishing in 2nd place at 1-under par 71.  2010 Southern California Tour Champion Charles Lyon played well and tied for 3rd along with Roland Rivera of San Diego at 1-over par 73. 

Michael O’Keefe got promoted to the Palmer Flight from the Hogan Flight last year and has struggled somewhat in the new flight.  That all changed on Sunday.  O’Keefe and Gregg Short were the only players in the flight to break into the 80’s, each carding a 79 which resulted in a playoff on #18.  With more than a few spectators enjoying the action from the clubhouse, O’Keefe would hit the green on the 230-yard closing par-three, ultimately being able to enjoy victory once Short missed the green left into the hazard.  Bob Hanyon carded a “9” on the fifth hole but was still able to manage an 81 to finish in a tie for third place along with Mick Yanoschak of Rancho Santa Margarita. 

The Hogan Flight saw some close scoring on Sunday, with Darin Beeghley of San Diego taking home the honors with a solid round of 9-over par 81.  The victory was surprisingly the first one for the talented 39-year old since the 2009 season, who made a solid putt on his closing hole for the narrow 1-stroke victory.   Mike Williamson of Oceanside birdied his first hole of the day, #10, and played solid all day, coming up just short and in 2nd place at 82.  Paul Kerr finished in 3rd place at 83. 

Chris Nayve blew away the competition in the Sarazen Flight, posting his best and only round under 80 in three years on Tour.  Nayve fired a 78 on Sunday good for a six stroke victory and his first on Tour since the 2009 season.   Deon Chen, recently promoted from the Jones Flight, proved his improvement was no fluke.  Chen fired a score that typically is in the winning range for the flight, but his 84 had him settle for a very good 2nd place finish in the first start in the flight.  Andrew Bloom and Kenneth Shelton Jr tied for 3rd place at 85. 

56-year young Michael Valdepena continues to improve on Tour and was rewarded with his 5th win on Tour this season in the Jones Flight on Sunday.  Valdepena, who was in the Snead Flight for some time, is making his mark on the Jones Flight in a big way this season, firing an 86 on Sunday for the win.  John Tyczki of Ramona had a good round that saw him in 2nd place at 88.  Richard McDaniel of San Diego rounded out the top three and the scoring in the 80’s for the flight at 89. 

Kenneth Swanson claimed the Snead Flight in amazing fashion on Sunday, firing a 39 on the front nine on his way to a 7-stroke victory.  Swanson broke into the 80’s for the first time in 17 rounds on Tour this season, grabbing the victory with a very solid 88.  Fellow senior Joe Strong finished in 2nd place at 95. 

In the Senior Hogan Flight there was one person who broke into the 70’s, and that person was Jack Coogan.  Coogan fired a 6-over par 78 good for a two-stroke victory over Ted Collins who finished in 2nd place at 80.  Scott Goedecke and Jervay McKinney tied for 3rd at 83. 

Sesh Ramakrishnan fired his low Tour round of the year by 8 strokes on his way to claiming Senior Sarazen.  Ramakrishnan fired a 79 on the day to take home top honors.  Jeffrey McGee of Bowie, MD fired a very solid 82 to finish in 2nd place, while Cedric Coleman took third at 86. 

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

Championship

69-Scott Stevens ($175 and Trophy)
71-Tom Isaak ($100)
73-Charles Lyon ($25)
73-Roland Rivera ($25)

Palmer Flight

79-Michael O’Keefe ($200 and Trophy)*
79-Gregg Short ($125)
81-Mick Yanoschak ($50)
81-Bob Hanyon ($50)
82-Alfredo Jimenez ($25)

Hogan Flight

81-Darin Beeghley ($150 and Trophy)
82-Mike Williamson ($100)
83-Paul Kerr ($50)

Sarazen Flight

78-Chris Nayve ($150 and Trophy)
84-Deon Chen ($100)
85-Andrew Bloom ($25)
85-Kenneth Shelton ($25)

Jones Flight

86-Michael Valdepena ($150 and Trophy)
88-John Tycski ($100)
89-Richard McDaniel ($50)

Snead Flight

88-Kenneth Swanson ($150 and Trophy)
95-Joe Strong ($75)

Senior Hogan Flight

78-Jack Coogan ($150 and Trophy)
80-Ted Collins ($100)
83-Scott Goedecke ($25)
83-Jervay McKinney ($25)

Senior Sarazen Flight

79-Sesh Ramakrishnan ($150 and Trophy)
82-Jeff McGee ($100)
86-Cedric Coleman ($50)
88-Bob Kirkbright ($25)

Optional Skins Game Results

Group 1 (Championship & Palmer)

#8-Tom Isaak ($80)
#9-Gregg Short ($80)
#14-Tom Isaak ($80)
#17-Scott Stevens ($80)

Group 2 (Hogan & Sarazen)

#1-Chris Nayve ($70)
#2-Michael Coleman ($70)
#6-Allen Cornwall ($70)
#7-Jack Coogan ($70)
#13-John Usilton ($70)
#16-Paul Kerr ($70)
#17-Michael Coleman ($70)
#18-Ted Collins ($70)

Group 3 (Jones & Snead)

#1-John Tyczki ($30)
#6-Randy Kilburn ($30)
#8-Michael Valdepena ($30)
#10-Brian Strate ($30)
#11-Michael Valdepena ($30)
#13-Paul Hitchcock ($30)
#14-Brian Strate ($30)
#15-Michael Valdepena ($30)
#17-Michael Valdepena ($30)

Congratulations to Improving Players

Congratulations to the following Tour Players who have improved on Tour this season and were promoted just recently as of the July 2 Handicap Revision:

Glenn Burton (Palmer to Championship)
Jerry Maes (Jones to Sarazen)
Shaka Johnson (Snead to Jones)
Jeff Fischel (Sarazen to Hogan)
Jose Talamantes (Hogan to Palmer)

Congratulations to these players and good luck in your new flight!