Haley Moore is all smiles after her first round 65
CARLSBAD, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2016) -- A field of 70 mostly collegiate and high school players from Southern California played the "Palmer Tees" at Aviara Golf Club today in the first round of the AGC San Diego Amateur. The course was long, the ball was played as it lies. And we're sure the late Arnold Palmer, who designed the course 25 years ago, would have loved to see this level of competition on a mid-December day.
At the end of the day, it was Taylor Myers alone on top of a crowded leaderboard. The Novato resident (North Bay San Francisco) started on the challenging 18th hole in today's shotgun start, getting the dogleg-right, watery monster -- that caused many of the field to record "others" -- out of the way with a par. He then went to the front nine like a man on a mission, birdieing Nos. 1 and 2 before recording two more back-to-back (6 and 7) on his way to a 4-under 32. Another birdie at No. 10 and the number got to 5-under before Myers settled down with two bogeys coming in to finish 3-under.
He'll take a 2-shot lead over both Kyle Haas (Rancho Cucamonga) and Austin Fox (Folsom). Both players recorded 1-under rounds of 71.
And how about this card? Christian Guerzon posted a round that would make Bobby Jones proud. (Jones often compared golf to a match against "Old Man Par") Today Guerzon made 18-straight pars. You don't see that at Aviara very often.
Defending Champ Chris Tuulik opened with a 75. Don't write him off just yet. After starting on No. 18 and shooting a disappointing 41 on the front nine, he posted 3 birdies coming home to fire one of the lowest back nines of the day, a 34.
WOMEN'S, SENIOR, NET
If an amazing round full of red numbers is what you're looking for, than Haley Moore was happy to oblige. Moore, from Escondido and who plays for Arizona, fired 65 on a day she said "everything was working, the driver, the wedges, the irons."
Moore hit all the par-5s but one in two, and recorded 7 birdies. Her scorekeeper, Brianna Steger, circled all 7 of them on probably the neatest card we received all day. (Guys, take note.) Amy Matsuoka of Newport Beach posted a very solid round of 73 and leads the next competitor, Divya Manthena, by 6.
In the Senior Division, last year's co-champion Jeff Britton of Carmel shot a steady 74 to lead by one over Don Eklund of San Diego. In the Net flight, Walter Sabati from Las Vegas made his maiden voyage around Aviara in Net 83 and leads Dave Davidson by a few shots.
TEE TIME MONDAY
On Monday, play will be 8:30am shotgun with the leading groups going off the first tee. Pairings will be posted by 8:00pm.
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