Nathan Jetton, tourney founder Casey Boyns win Christmas Classic titles on final hole
12/4/2022 | by Pete Wlodkowski of AmateurGolf.com
see also: View results for AGC Christmas Classic, Del Monte Golf Course
Jetton, a Bandon Dunes caddie, survived a three-way playoff at Del Monte, while Boyns broke a tie on the final hole of regulation
Nathan Jetton (Bandon, Ore.) won the Christmas Classic on Sunday, chipping in on the first playoff hole at Del Monte Golf Club in Monterey, Calif.
The Bandon Dunes caddie shot consecutive rounds of 71 to finish at 2-under 142 on a challenging weekend of golf that started with rain and ended with sunshine.
He was joined at that number by first-round leader Mikey Burkland (Alamo, Calif.) and Michael Carrillo (Chualar, Calif.). Both Jetton and Burkland birdied the last two holes to get into the playoff, while Carrillo, despite four birdies on the back nine to get into contention, suffered a bogey on his 36th hole after finding his tee shot stymied behind a tree.
Jetton, after trying to reach the green in two with a driver from the fairway, chipped in for birdie four on the first playoff hole to take the title.
"I saw where Michael's drive was and figured he could get home in two," said Jetton. "So I decided to hit driver off the deck."
Jetton's third shot from the small trees didn't get to the green, leaving him a delicate pitch over the bunker to the short-sided pin. Any previous mistakes were forgiven when he lofted the delicate shot to just over the bunker, and it rolled in like a putt as he fist-pumped his way to pick up the ball.
As Carillo failed to get up and down from pin high in two, and first-round leader Mikey Burkland's birdie putt slid by, the title belonged to the Bandon Dunes summer caddie. (If you are making a trip up there, and need a good looper, just ask for "Nate.")
Kyle Gentry (AGC photo)
Kyle Gentry (Palo Alto, Calif.) took low mid-amateur honors. finishing T7 overall with rounds of 73-73 to edge out Daren Johnson (Covina, Calif.) by a single shot. Gentry -- a former Stanford golfer and the co-host of "Golf U" on Sirius XM with Stanford coach Conrad Ray -- was pleased to keep things together after hitting a ball O.B. on No. 17.
"I birdied with my second ball, then made a birdie on No. 18 to finish things off without falling apart, so I'm pleased about that," said Gentry.
Charles Richesin and Casey Boyns (AGC photo)
In the Senior Division, Casey Boyns (Monterey, Calif.) added another chapter to his Christmas Classic history, making a birdie on the 36th hole to win by one shot over three players. Like Jetton, Boyns is a caddie at a world-class resort. He is a longtime looper at Pebble Beach, and a two-time champ of the California Amateur at the world-famous course.
Boyns is also the founder of the Christmas Classic -- the original name of the tournament was Casey's Christmas Classic when he started it in 1985.
Related: Bing had his Clambake, Casey has his Christmas Classic
Boyns, who turns 67 next week, also won the low Super Senior honor however, in the spirit of not "double dipping," the award went to multiple past champion of this tournament Charles Richesin of Lodi.
Tom Natividad (AGC photo)
In the Net division, Tom Natividad (Walnut Creek, Calif.) earned a three-shot victory over Sylvia Chu (San Mateo, Calif.) with rounds of 75-71.
>> FINAL RESULTS
>> PHOTO GALLERY
The Bandon Dunes caddie shot consecutive rounds of 71 to finish at 2-under 142 on a challenging weekend of golf that started with rain and ended with sunshine.
He was joined at that number by first-round leader Mikey Burkland (Alamo, Calif.) and Michael Carrillo (Chualar, Calif.). Both Jetton and Burkland birdied the last two holes to get into the playoff, while Carrillo, despite four birdies on the back nine to get into contention, suffered a bogey on his 36th hole after finding his tee shot stymied behind a tree.
"I saw where Michael's drive was and figured he could get home in two," said Jetton. "So I decided to hit driver off the deck."
Jetton's third shot from the small trees didn't get to the green, leaving him a delicate pitch over the bunker to the short-sided pin. Any previous mistakes were forgiven when he lofted the delicate shot to just over the bunker, and it rolled in like a putt as he fist-pumped his way to pick up the ball.
As Carillo failed to get up and down from pin high in two, and first-round leader Mikey Burkland's birdie putt slid by, the title belonged to the Bandon Dunes summer caddie. (If you are making a trip up there, and need a good looper, just ask for "Nate.")
Kyle Gentry (AGC photo)
"I birdied with my second ball, then made a birdie on No. 18 to finish things off without falling apart, so I'm pleased about that," said Gentry.
Charles Richesin and Casey Boyns (AGC photo)
In the Senior Division, Casey Boyns (Monterey, Calif.) added another chapter to his Christmas Classic history, making a birdie on the 36th hole to win by one shot over three players. Like Jetton, Boyns is a caddie at a world-class resort. He is a longtime looper at Pebble Beach, and a two-time champ of the California Amateur at the world-famous course.
Boyns is also the founder of the Christmas Classic -- the original name of the tournament was Casey's Christmas Classic when he started it in 1985.
Related: Bing had his Clambake, Casey has his Christmas Classic
Boyns, who turns 67 next week, also won the low Super Senior honor however, in the spirit of not "double dipping," the award went to multiple past champion of this tournament Charles Richesin of Lodi.
Tom Natividad (AGC photo)
In the Net division, Tom Natividad (Walnut Creek, Calif.) earned a three-shot victory over Sylvia Chu (San Mateo, Calif.) with rounds of 75-71.
>> FINAL RESULTS
>> PHOTO GALLERY
Results: AGC Christmas Classic
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diamond Springs, CA | 100 | 71-71=142 | |
| T2 | Chualar, CA | 65 | 71-71=142 | |
| T2 | Alamo, CA | 65 | 69-73=142 | |
| T4 | Berkeley, CA | 30 | 76-67=143 | |
| T4 | Alamo, CA | 30 | 71-72=143 |
About the AGC Christmas Classic
2025 GolfGenius PortalThe Christmas Classic was founded by 2-time California State Amateur Champion Casey Boyns over 20 years ago and it always attracts a great field. This is our most popular event, and year in and year out it sells out. Field limit...
Most Popular Articles
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced
Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing
2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING
Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year
Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
Luke Ringkamp Cruises to Rolex Tournament of Champions Title at TPC San Antonio
Nov 26, 2025One week after committing to Pepperdine, Luke Ringkamp won the Rolex Tournament of Champions by nine shots.
Inside Gil Hanse’s Restoration of Baltusrol’s Upper Course: A Return to Tillinghast’s
Dec 11, 2025Renowned architect Gil Hanse reveals how he brought Baltusrol’s Upper Course back to life by honoring A.W. Tillinghast’s original