- amateurgolf.com photo
CARLSBAD, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2013) -- Alex
Franklin had anything but a safe lead after
posting 73 in the first round of the San Diego
County Amateur at Aviara. With three players
tied with him, and another four within a stroke,
the 36 hole event was anyone's ballgame.
Starting with a bogey on the relatively
easy 9th hole, and then making a 20 foot par
put on No. 10, Franklin bogeyed the 11th to
get 2-over early.
Not the start that the defending champ of
the Amateurgolf.com Silicon Valley Amateur
(he will defend it next weekend) was looking
for.
After settling down with pars, Franklin
went on a run of three straight birdies on Nos.
16-18, making up anywhere from 3-5 shots on
just about any of his competitors. Especially
on the 443-yard par 4 18th, one of the best
finishing holes in California with water off the
tee, and guarding the second shot with no bail
out in sight.
"The wind was starting to blow
there," said Franklin. "I hit a good
drive and still had 4-hybrid left - I hit the
green and made the putt."
Franklin, who tied Randy Haag for
Amateurgolf.com Tournament Series Player-of-
the-Year in 2012, will head back to Northern
California primed to defend his Silicon Valley
Amateur title at Coyote Creek near San Jose,
against a full field of 112 players.
Jefferson Kao, of Walnut, and up-and-
coming 15-year-old who advanced through
local qualifying for the US Open this past
summer, showed he should definitely be on any
college coach's radar, firing rounds of 74-73 to
take solo second.
Tied for third at 149 were John Kollus of
San Diego and Phillip Chian of Indio, while Nick
Ushijima of Hillsborough rounded out the top 5
at 150.
Cyrus Whitney of Oro Valley, Arizona
captured the Senior Division title on the heels
of a very solid 73 on Saturday for a 151 total.
Whitney, starting on the 10th hole, hit a solid
drive and hybrid to 20 feet for an easy birdie,
then cruised through the back-nine with 8-
straight pars to take the lead.
After a double bogey on the 2nd hole,
Whitney came back with a nice 10 foot par
save on the 3rd, and solid fairway and green
play for the rest of the round.
Amateurgolf.com founder Pete Wlodkowski
was 2nd at 155; Don Garczewski of Carlsbad
and Paul Hundhammer of San Diego tied for 3rd
at 156. All three are members of the Torrey
Pines Men's Club.
Kurt Erikson of Carlsbad won the Net
Division at 148; Korsen Yu of Sunnyvale was
second at 150 and Scott Henrikson rounded
out the top 3 at 152.
Michell Piyapattra, who plays for the
Columbia University Women's golf team, fired
two steady rounds of 78 to win the Women's
gross at 156; Ava Lourenco won the Net prize.
|
Net winner Kurt
Erikson (left), Women's champ Michelle
Piyapattra, and Senior winner Cyrus Whitney
|
TOURNAMENT NOTES:
* A note of thanks to the entire staff at
Aviara Golf Club for hosting us this year, and
hopefully for many years to come. The LPGA
Tour will play Aviara in March; it should be
interesting to see how they handle the greens
when they are running faster than 11 on the
stimpmeter.
* SKINS were taken by four different
players - if you won a skin a check will be
mailed to you promptly.
* A sincere appreciation to sponsors
Titleist, True Temper/Project X, Lamkin, and
Flightscope for providing prizes for proximity
contests.
SKINS: $105 each
Bob Grassa, No. 4, Birdie 3
Chris Laub, No. 16, Birdie 3
KK. Limbhasut, No. 2, Birdie 3
Dino Antenucci, No. 7, Birdie 3
View results for AGC San Diego Amateur
ABOUT THE
AGC San Diego Amateur
>>
2023 TOUR PORTAL
*An SCGA Points Event*
The San Diego Amateur returns to Aviara Golf
Club in Carlsbad. Once again we are going to
be
treated like pros at one of the best venues in
Southern
California, Aviara Golf Club -- as seen on TV
during the LPGA's Kia Classic played in March!
This is a gross competition with
Championship,
Senior and Net divisions.
Your entry fee includes 2 rounds of golf with
cart, prizes, trophies for division winners, and
the
opportunity to play a Tour-proven golf course
in
a
competitive setting. Special rates for practice
rounds
and
lodging will be offered.
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.
View Complete Tournament Information