Tour Champion Mat Miller To view other winner photos, click here>
STEVINSON, California (December 21, 2009) -- Mat Miller of Pleasanton won the Championship Division of the amateurgolf.com Tour Championship by 2 strokes over the weekend, following up a first round 68 with an even par 72 in round two to finish at 4-under. Four players tied for second at 2-under -- Sam Smith of Turlock; Michael Weaver of Fresno; Derek Ernst of Clovis; and Eric Mina of Fremont.
Miller had an amazing run on Saturday, going 6-under for his final 10 holes, including a birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie run on holes 9-12 and a cap-off birdie on the par-5 closing hole. Back nines of 31 don't come too often at Stevinson Ranch, particularly in chilly December weather.
The stretch of holes 16-18 is Stevinson's version of "Amen Corner." On Sunday, Miller was in charge withi
n his final round pairing, but briefly let the field of contenders back in the tournament when he made double-bogey on the treacherous par-3 16th. The University of San Francisco golfer quickly righted his ship with a par-birdie finish.
Rob Thompson won the Senior Division at 148, making birdie on the final hole to edge amateurgolf.com Senior Player-of-the-Year Mark Miller by 1. Mike Donnelly took third place.
In the Net division, Terry O'Prey grabbed the win, but Korsen Yu of Sunnyvale got the Tour Championship crystal (O'Prey was ineligible but played as an open contestant). Yu also claimed the amateurgolf.com Net Player-of-the-Year title with his win.
Randy Haag of Burlingame couldn't play the Tour Championships due to a date conflict with the Dixie Amateur in Florida (he shot 76-69 to miss the final cut by 1), but he had already clinched his third straight amateurgolf.com Championship Division Player-of-the-Year title.
TOURNAMENT NOTES:
Dr. Glen Albaugh, and "Winning the Battle Within"
Dr. Glen was at Stevinson over the weekend, working with Nationwide Tour player Matt Hansen (who holds the amazing course record of 59 at Stevinson Ranch). I had a chance to work with Glen and Matt on several practice drills and mental exercises that I know will help me play tension free golf and score better. We're working on a two-day seminar for later this year at none other than Stevinson Ranch... By the way, if you would like to order a copy of Glen's book, you can find it on Amazon.com or by visiting: www.wbwgolf.com.
Special Thanks to the golf staffs, food and beverage operations, maintenance crew, and everyone that makes us proud to call Stevinson Ranch "The Home Course of amateurgolf.com." In addition, my personal thanks to Jeff Cederlind and the Turlock Christian High School golf team players who helped us as spotters and scorekeepers.
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Final results from the amateurgolf.com 2009 Tour Championship presented by Bridgestone Golf, played Dec 19-20, 2009 at the 7205 yard, par 72 Stevinson Ranch Golf Club in Stevinson, CA:
1. 
International