Hartej Grewal (AmateurGolf.com Photo)
He needed one extra hole, but
Hartej Grewal of Pleasanton, Calif., secured his first amateur win at the AmateurGolf.com 2024 Pacific Grove City Championship, presented by Callaway Golf at Pacific Grove Golf Links in Pacific Grove, Calif.
Grewal sunk a 20-footer for birdie on the first playoff hole (No. 1) to defeat Ben Friedman of Mill Valley, Calif., in the Championship Division.
"I feel awesome," Grewal said. "This is my first amateur win, and this is all I could ask for."
Grewal added, "It was one of the best putts I have hit in my life."
Grewal started the day one shot behind the leading group and was one group ahead of the leaders. But he made sure he wasn't looking over his shoulder too much. He shot a final round 1-under 69 to finish 2-under with rounds of 69-69 to tie Friedman.
"Ben (Friedman) and I shared some eye contact on a couple of holes and smiled at each other, knowing we were both playing well, but I just had to keep my game focused and not make any mistakes," Grewal said.
Friedman was 4-under in his final round through 13 holes, thanks to four birdies and an eagle. However, four bogeys on his last five holes, including Holes No. 17 and 18, put him back in a tie with Grewal after Grewal made a birdie on No. 18. Friedman shot a final round even par 70.
Grewal made a birdie on the first playoff hole to win the Championship Division.
William Chang of Danville, Calif., finished in solo third place at 1-under, just one shot out of the playoff. Chang shot a final round 1-over 71. Seven golfers finished T4 at even-par.
Hartej Grewal and William Chang earned the final two exemptions into the SF City Championship by virtue of their top 3 finishes. Ben Friedman was already in.
Russell Humphrey of Lodi won the Senior Championship Division after two straight years of coming up just short. Humphrey finished T2 in 2022 and 2023. Humphrey made some key putts down the stretch and rode his consistent ball, striking to a final round even par 70.
Humphrey recently won the 2023 Oregon Senior Amateur.
Related: OREGON SENIOR AMATEUR: RUSSELL HUMPHREY WINS HIS SECOND IN THREE YEARS Humphrey finished 1-over, one shot better than Jeff Bell of Carmel Valley, Calif., and Michael Staskus of Los Altos, Calif., who both finished at 2-over and T2.
Humphrey shot rounds of 71-70 to win.
Jim Williams of Orinda, Calif., Daniel O'Connor of San Francisco, Calif., and Andrew Gabelman of Barrington, Ill., finished T4 at 3-over.
In the Super Senior Division, Michael Staskus won at 2-over. Staskas won the 2022 NCGA Super Senior.
Related: MIKE STASKUS WINS NCGA SUPER SENIOR TITLE In the Net Division, Robin Carew won by one shot over Chris Ladd of Santa Rosa, Calif., at 3-over, and Rori Fanning of Valencia, Calif., was the low women's scorer at 8-over.
In the Mid-Amateur Division, Jerry Ledzinski of Carmel, Calif., shot even par over the 36 holes to win by two shots. Ledzinski shot rounds of 71-69. Alexander Pangelinan of Fremont, Calif., finished in solo second place at 2-over while Jimmy Jea of San Francisco, Calif., and Neil Summers of Los Altos, Calif., finished T3 at 4-over. Summers shot an impressive final round 4-under 66.
Pacific Grove Golf Links offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, Lovers Point, Point Pinos, Crespi Pond, and Asilomar's natural sand dunes. Originally designed by Chandler Egan in 1932, the first nine holes take you through the forested areas of Pacific Grove.
Egan's nine takes you through an inland terrain and reflects much of the charm of an English rural course done in the old style. The back nine was designed by Jack Neville, the original designer of the Pebble Beach Golf Links.
ABOUT THE AGC Pacific Grove City
>> TOUR PORTAL
Individual championship at the wonderful
Pacific
Grove
Golf
Links, known to many as "The Poor Man's
Pebble
Beach." That's because the back nine plays
right
along
the Pacific Ocean in an out-and-back links style
layout. If you haven't played this Monterey
Peninsula gem, entering this tournament with a
friend or relative is the perfect way to
experience
it. Field limit 104; 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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