Takes SD County Am title in playoff

Russell strung together a pair of solid rounds of 2-under-par 70, the first coming at the El Camino Country Club in Oceanside and the second at The Golf Club of California in Fallbrook, to finish at 4-under 140. He was tied with Golf Club of California member Colin Featherstone for first at the end of 36 holes, so both golfers headed back to the scenic 18th hole to break the deadlock.

Russell's tee shot on the 200+ yard par-3, which crosses a pond and finishes in front of the clubhouse, found the bunker to the left of the green. Featherstone found the green, but was a 50 feet from the pin, and on the wrong side of crest.

Russell blasted out of the trap to within five feet, while Featherstone's putt rolled past the hole and to nearly the same spot as Russell's.

Both players saw their putts burn the edge, and the match moved on to the first hole.

Russell put the pressure on immediately by blasting a 340-yard drive almost through the fairway, leaving himself less than 60 yards to the green.

Featherstone had his drive find the fairway as well, but caught a flier on his approach and ended up with a poor lie in the back bunker.

Russell pitched to within 20-feet, and two-putted for the victory when Featherstone couldn't get up-and-down.

"I thought I made that putt (on the first playoff hole) but it hit a little pitch mark," said Russell. "On the next hole I just killed my driver, I never hit driver on that hole but I'd been hitting it really good all tournament."

"I thought I'd holed the second shot," said the Purdue grad, who flew a 97-yard shot directly in the cup on the previous day. "I saw his reaction and assumed he went left, but you usually get a good lie in that trap, so I knew I had to stick it close. I was still pretty nervous over that last putt."

It was the first victory for Russell, who is an advertising manager for Sandstone Marketing, since he won a two-day event at GCoC by a stroke.

A third San Diegan, Shane Mason, took third at 1-under 143.

Tony Toulon carded an even-par total while Kenneth McCready rounded out the top-5 in the championship flight at 5-over.

Terry Hanks won a small senior division by five strokes at 161, while Murrieta's John Lane took the net flight at 146.

Picture gallery will be posted shortly.

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