- Special thanks to Callaway Golf for sponsoring
CARLSBAD, Calif. (Jan 4, 2014) -- Being
the last player to get a spot in the San Diego
County Amateur this year worked out perfectly
for Gordon Neale.
Just a day before Friday’s first round,
Neale, of Trabuco Canyon, was moved from
the wait-list to the tournament field. The
Tesoro High School junior took advantage of
the opportunity, posting a first round of 71 to
tie for the early lead, then surging past the
pack with a 3-under 69 on the challenging
Arnold Palmer layout, good for a 7 stroke
victory in the 50 player championship field.
Neale may be young, but he’s no stranger
to competitive golf – achieving a high level of
success in high school and junior tournaments
like the Callaway Junior World. He also qualified
for the 2013 U.S. Amateur and competed at
The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. That
experience paid off in the way Neale attacked
the 7007 yard layout in the final round, where
he posted a 2-under 34 on the front nine and
followed that with birdies on the 10th and 12th
holes, the latter an uphill dogleg par-4 that is
certainly no pushover.
With a substantial lead he took only one
bogey on the way in, at the 15th, which is one
of the two really tough par fours on the back
nine. At the 18th, which many consider the
most challenging closer in Southern California,
Neale closed out his round with a par for 69
and a 7 shot victory over Niles Wright of Long
Beach.
Four players tied for 3rd at 148; Adam
Schenk (Indiana), Blake Barens (Irvine), Tyler
Gulliksen (Encinitas), and John Kollus (San
Diego).
SENIOR DIVISION
First round leader Don Eklund made things
“more interesting than they needed to be” in
the words of his fellow competitor Jim Ream,
but he brought home a two stroke victory at
152 largely thanks to the fabulous 2-under 70
he posted in the first round. In fairness to
Eklund, and the rest of the senior and net
fields, the blue tees were set up in more
difficult locations on Saturday for the final
round.
Jim Ream and Warren Leary, playing with
Eklund, got to within one stroke of his lead
after he suffered a double bogey on the par-5
8th hole, the group's 17th. But Eklund, who
plays out of San Diego Country Club, bounced
back with a birdie on the downhill 9th, closing
out the victory and leaving no doubt that he
could get the job done.
WOMEN/NET
|
Women's winner
Haley Moore with Pete Wlodkowski of
amateurgolf.com |
Haley Moore of Escondido owns several
course records, and she’s no stranger to
shooting in the 60s. Still, the high school
sophomore left some of the players in the field
shaking their heads when they saw her gross
68 posted in the first round, including a
double-eagle, birdie finish. Moore followed up
with a 73 to post 3-under 141, good for a 10-
stroke victory over Amy Alston of Mission
Viejo. Alston shot the round of the day on
Saturday with a slightly more difficult set of
tees – an even par 72. All seven women who
played the tournament (along with the rest of
the field) will enjoy watching the LPGA Tour
play Aviara for the second straight year when
the Kia Classic visits Carlsbad in March. Rest
assured that Moore’s double-eagle/birdie finish
on 17 and 18 (which Aviara officials think may
be a first) will go untouched, even by the
world’s best. She went home with an engraved
bag tag, courtesy of Aviara professional
Johnny Walker, which reads “Haley Double-
Eagle Moore.”
Dorothy Donnelly of Salinas (70-78=147)
won the Net title by a single shot over Greg
Austin of San Marcos (72-77=148) while
amateurgolf.com regular Chris Ladd (who made
the trip down from San Francisco) and
newcomer Rich McDaniel of San Diego tied for
third at 151.
CALLAWAY SPONSORSHIP A BIG HIT
The San Diego County Amateur marks the
first 2014 amateurgolf.com Tour event
presented by Callaway Golf. Players really
enjoyed receiving a $25 Callaway gift card that
can be used for equipment, balls, or
accessories on Callaway’s new website. The
Carlsbad-based company recently signed world
No. 3 Henrik Stenson as a new member of
Team Callaway for 2014.
SPECIAL THANKS TO AVIARA GOLF CLUB
AND ALL PLAYERS
We couldn’t be more pleased with the
conditions, staff, and customer service at one
of our favorite venues, The Park Hyatt Aviara
Golf Club. The venue rounded out the “big
three” items of a successful tournament:
course, weather, and field. The weather spoke
for itself, as those on the opposite side of the
country suffered through a brutally cold and
snowy weekend we only worried about three
putting the lightening fast greens. As for the
field, it was our best ever and we recommend
registering early next year as it’s bound to be
a sellout.
View results for AGC San Diego Amateur
ABOUT THE
AGC San Diego Amateur
>>
2023 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