Joey Hayden (NCGA Photo)
Dublin resident Joey Hayden came up clutch when it mattered the most.
Hayden, a 22-year-old junior-to-be at University of Santa Clara, made an eagle on the par-5 18th hole at Poppy Hills on Sunday to hold off AJ Fitzgerald by a stroke and win the annual NCGA Amateur Stroke Play Championship. It's the first NCGA title for Hayden, who in 2022 helped De La Salle High win a CIF State title.
"This is an important win for me. I've been working hard on my game and it's good to see the results," said Hayden, who finished with a record 54-hole total of 10-under 203, eclipsing Daniel Connolly's previous record of 204. "The events the NCGA puts on, we all appreciate it and we have a lot of fun out there."
In what was a tense finish, both Hayden and Fitzgerald came to the tee at 18 tied at a total of 8-under par. Hayden's second shot, a 3-wood from 248 yards out in the fairway, landed just off the green, 12 feet away from the flagstick. Fitzgerald's second, from just off the cart path, found the deep-front greenside bunker. Fitzgerald hit a brilliant bunker shot to within 5 feet of the hole, but it wouldn't matter, as Hayden went on to make his putt for a final round 68 and the win.
"The pin was tucked right. I'd by lying if I said I was going for the flagstick. I was trying to get to the center of the green.," Hayden said. "I was trying to just make a four. If I made a three, I made a three. I did and I was pleased with that."
On the 17th tee, Hayden held a one-shot lead over Fitzgerald. Hayden's tee shot missed the green, leading to a bogey. Fitzgerald, who shot a final round 69, made par to tie things up.
"It was a hiccup on 17. It was a three-putt but not really because I was off the green," Hayden said.
A former Youth on Course member, Fitzgerald grew up playing Poppy Hills. It showed, as he only three-putted once over his 54 holes. Unfortunately, the lone three-putt happened on the 8th hole in the final round.
"What are you going to do?," asked Fitzgerald referencing Hayden's eagle to win it. "I still played super smart and putted well all three days. Just had that one three-putt."
One of the big differences for Hayden and Fitzgerald was the par-5 10th. There, Hayden went a total of 2-under, while Fitzgerald played the hole at 1-over.
Fitzgerald, a caddie at Cypress Point who also lost a heartbreaker in the finals of this year's San Francisco City Championship, had opened the event with a 5-under 66, just a stroke off the tournament record of 65 held by Jonathan De Los Reyes and Kevin Lucas. A day later, Hayden put himself in the mix with his own 66.
"Each day I just tried to do the same thing, play good golf," Hayden said. "This gives me a lot of confidence. There are a lot of great players out there."
Third place went to Jacob Goode at 206 after a final round 68.
ABOUT THE NCGA Stroke Play
First played in 1944, the NCGA Stroke Play
Championship has a special history, as the
tournament has been won
by the likes of Ken Venturi and Johnny Miller. The
sterling silver
perpetual trophy was donated by the San Francisco
Examiner in 1944.
Championship play is 54 holes of
stroke play (18 holes per day). After 36 holes the
field will be cut to 40 players and ties. Pre-qualifying
required for non-
exempt players. Open to players with handicaps of
5.4 or lower.
View Complete Tournament Information