Nathan Jetton (AmateurGolf.com photo)
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.
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ABOUT THE
AGC Christmas Classic
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The 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
limited to 104 players; Championship, Senior,
and Net divisions.
Your entry fee includes two rounds of
golf
(cart at players expense), $4500 in
Callaway Golf certificate prizes,
$20 lunch certificate,
and a
great
weekend at one of the Monterey Peninsula's
wonderful classic courses, "Old" Del Monte.
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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