- Del Monte GC photo
Ash Hakim (San Ramon, Calif.), who will be entering a fifth-year college season at Saint Mary's College, shot a final-round 68 to erase a four-shot deficit and win the 71st Monterey (Calif.) City Amateur at Del Monte Golf Club.
Hakim's 68 was tied for the low round of the day and allowed him to post a target number of 5-under 211 in the clubhouse. At the time of his finish, Hakim could not feel too comfortable as both overnight leader Ben Soicher (Mill Valley, Calif.) and Griffin Long (Davis, Calif.) had great chances to win on the final hole.
Long raced ahead of the field with a 30 on the outward nine but started to falter late in the round, going bogey-double on 16 and 17. Still, he had a one-shot lead over Hakim and Soicher on the final tee, but unfortunately made another double to fall back to 4 under, one shot behind Hakim. When Soicher dropped a shot at the last, he too fell to four under, and Hakim was the champion.
Long (71) and Soicher (73) finished tied for second.
For Hakim, it was his first significant win since the 2018 Sacramento City Championship and his second win at Del Monte. He won the AmateurGolf.com Christmas Classic there in 2016.
Nick Moore (Seaside, Calif.), who earlier this summer picked up his 10th all-time NCGA win, closed with a 68 to finish alone in fourth at 3 under. George McNealy (Carmel, Calif.) rounded out the top five at 2 under par.
The defending champion Sean Etow (Irvine, Calif.) tied for 8th at 1 over.
Additional division winners included: Senior Division (50+) – Randy Haag of Orinda, Calif.; Super Senior Division (65+) – Joey Ferrari of Stockton, Calif.; Net Division – Matt Brody of Dallas, Texas.
ABOUT THE Monterey City Amateur
Stroke play championship with the following
divisions:
Championship- 54-hole stroke-play competition,
36-hole cut to low half of field and ties
Net Flight- 54-hole stroke-play competition,
36-hole cut to low half of field and ties
Senior Flight- 36-hole competition,
NO CUT (Played on the first two days)
Super Senior Flight- 36-hole competition,
NO CUT (Played on the first two days).
Championship flight is limited to players with
a USGA index of 3.0 or better. All players that have a
higher
index must compete in the Net division. Players ages
50+
with a handicap index of 6.8 or lower are eligible for
the
Senior division. Super Senior division is ages 65+
with the
same index restrictions.
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