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A late eagle propels Luke Dugger to AmateurGolf.com's Winter Invitational title
18 Dec 2022
by Jim Young of AmateurGolf.com

see also: View results for AGC Winter Invitational, Corica Park - South Course, Luke Dugger Rankings

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Luke Dugger (AmateurGolf.com photo)
Luke Dugger (AmateurGolf.com photo)

A bolt of lightning named Luke Dugger flashed through Corica Park's South Course late Sunday afternoon during the final round of AmateurGolf.com's Winter Invitational presented by Callaway Golf, singeing everything in its path.

Dugger used an eagle on the par-4 14th hole to ignite a three-hole stretch that saw the Davis, Calif. native go 4-under in a three-hole stretch to claim a one-stroke victory over A.J. Fitzgerald of Salinas, Calif.

Playing a group behind Dugger, Fitzgerald seemingly had things in control after a birdie on the 13th gave him a two-stroke cushion at 6-under par. Then, all he could do was watch what was transpiring in front of him.

Dugger, who plays collegiately at Holy Names University in Oakland, holed out his second shot from 95-yards on the par-4 14th hole for an eagle, followed with a birdie on 15 and added another birdie on the 17th to wrestle the title away from a stunned Fitzgerald.

2022 Winter Invitational

Both players made bogeys on the closing hole, leaving Dugger with a final round 68 for a 36-hole total of 6-under 138, while Fitzgerald's even par 72 left him one back at 5-under.


Low mid-am Daniel Connolly (AG photo)
Baron Szeto, a sophomore at Cal Poly SLO who won the 2021 Alameda Commuters championship on the same course, birdied three of his four holes to gain a share of third place with San Francisco native Daniel Connolly at 4-under 140. Connolly, a two-time winner of the NCGA Stroke Play Amateur, closed with a 4-under 68 to win the mid-amateur division by four shots over Marc Engellenner and Nate Jetter.

The low rounds of the day were turned in by Joshua Kim and Daniel Kim who carded 5-under 67s. Joshua had six birdies and just one bogey while Daniel turned in a clean card with five birdies.

• • • • •


Kaylyn Noh (AG photo)
Kaylyn Noh outdueled Selena Tang, a Yale-bound senior at Mission High School in Fremont, Calif., to win the women's division.

Noh, a sophomore at Cal, got off to a slow start with bogeys on her first two holes but picked up four birdies in a four-hole stretch to pull even with Tang at 4-under. She took a one-stroke lead with a birdie on the 12th, the par 3 third, which proved to be the margin of victory.

"I had a tough start but I was in the same position yesterday so I knew I could bounce back from it," said Noh. "Selena put up a good fight right until the end."

Nog (-6) and Tang (-5) were the only two players in the women's division to finish in red numbers.

• • • • •


Mike Staskus (AG photo)
In the senior division, Mike Staskus prevailed in a two-hole playoff over Jeff Weiss after both players finished regulation tied at 2-over 146.

Staskus enjoyed a one-stroke over Weiss heading into the final round and increased his advantage to two after making a pair of birdies to start his inward nine. However, the reigning NCGA Super Senior champion found himself in a playoff after dropping two strokes coming home, including a bogey on the last, to finish with a round of 74.

Both players matched birdies on the first playoff hole before Staskus claimed the title with a par on the second extra hole.

"Jeff played great," said Staskus. "I had to make a six-footer on the last hole just to get into a playoff after leading for most of the tournament. Kudos to him. He chipped in twice and played really well."


Rob Miller (AG photo)
With Staskus winning the overall senior title, the low Super Senior award went to Rob Miller, who finished 6th overall, four shots behind the winner.

The AmateurGolf.com Winter Tour series continues with the Silicon Valley Amateur, to be played January 7-8 at Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto, Calif.

Results: AGC Winter Invitational
1CALuke DuggerDavis, CA10070-68=138
2CAA.J. FitzgeraldSalinas, CA6567-72=139
T3CADaniel ConnollySan Francisco, CA3072-68=140
T3CABaron SzetoMoraga, CA3070-70=140
T5CAMitchell HoeyAlamo, CA3073-69=142

View full results for AGC Winter Invitational

ABOUT THE AGC Winter Invitational

>> 2023 TOUR PORTAL

The Winter Invitational is now open to all players who satisfy the handicap requirements. Join us at the completely renovated Corica Park South Course -- it's the home course of AmateurGolf.com!

This is a gross competition with Championship and Senior divisions. There will be no Net division.

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.

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

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