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Kearney wins San Diego City
30 Jul 2012
by Pete Wlodkowski of AmateurGolf.com

see also: View results for San Diego City Amateur, Torrey Pines Golf Club - South Course

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- amateurgolf.com Photo

SAN DIEGO, Calif (July 29, 2012) -- There is something about the South Course at Torrey Pines that allows a certain type of player to get comfortable, and win multiple titles of the professional or amateur variety.

Of course, Tiger Woods with his run of Farmer's Insurance titles and the 2008 U.S. Open tops the list. But even for Woods, it was the years of experience (and more wins) in the Junior Worlds that prepared him well before he turned pro.

On the amateur side, Jamie Puterbaugh won four City Championships, before him it was Pat Duncan Senior. Now, Steven Kearney, who today won his second "City" title in three years, is enjoying the rewards of long drives down the middle, and solid iron shots to the firm South Course greens.

That solid play, allowed Kearney to come from three back with a 1-under 71. At 4-under for the tournament, Kearney was the only player to break par - his solid final round punctuated by a driver, 3-iron eagle (from four feet) at the 13th. That's right, Driver, 3-iron.

"Well, it was down wind," explained Stanford player Kearney after the round.

While the tournament is never over with five holes to play, Kearney had things in control and used fairway woods off the tee at Nos. 14, 15, and 17 to stay out of trouble. Owen Taylor of San Juan Capistrano, who plays for Sacramento State, finished in 2nd at even par, while his twin brother Eric, who held the 36-hole lead, slid down the board after suffering an 82.

The affable Taylor took it in stride though. "I found 11 bunkers today, that was my story," he joked.

Joe Ryon of El Camino Country Club (and TaylorMade Golf) posted a solid 73 to finish in third at 1-over.

Devon Brown of Rancho Santa Fe (and Northwestern University, where she is a Junior on the Women's golf team) took the Women's title, despite a brief stumble down the stretch.

She was an amazing 1-under on the day heading into the par-3 16th, but took a bogey there and a double on the par-4 17th before settling down with a solid par on No. 18 and a and a 5-stroke victory over Hillary Packard at 6-over par.

In the Senior Division, Howie Knodt of Chula Vista posted a day-low tying round of 74 on the South to pass leader Frank Merhar and win by a single shot at 7-over 223. Merhar had a two stroke lead with two holes left, but suffered bogeys on the 8th and 9th, while Knodt knocked in a 35 foot putt on No. 9 to win outright.

"I had been leaving it short all day, but not that one," said Knodt.

It should be noted that Merhar, a past champion, finished second at age 70, when the minimum age for the Senior division is 50. Dan Pouliot of Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank finished in 3rd at 9-over 225.

Ran Oh Keane captured the Senior women's title for the second straight year.

Results: San Diego City Amateur
1CASteven KearneyCarlsbad, CA10070-71-71--212
2CAOwen TaylorSan Juan Capistrano, CA6568-74-74--216
3CAJoe RyonCarlsbad, CA3075-69-73--217
4CAAdam MarshallLa Quinta, CA3070-72-76--218
5CAJordan EpsteinCA3074-68-77--219

View full results for San Diego City Amateur

ABOUT THE San Diego City Amateur

The format is 36-hole Gross Stroke Play with no cut and is open to all amateur golfers (no residency requirement), 18 years of age and over. Round 1 is at the North Course at Torrey Pines, and Round 2 at the site of the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Opens, the South Course at Torrey Pines.

The three divisions are as follows:

Men's Flight - Open to all male amateur golfers 18 years of age and over. Must have a current index of 4.0 or less as of June 1 through an active membership in an SCGA or USGA club or index system. After the entry period has closed, the tournament committee will compile the seventy-two (72) players with the lowest indexes to participate in the championship. San Diego Resident Golf Card Holder Guarantee: The twenty (20) lowest indexes belonging to City of San Diego Resident applicants with valid Resident Golf Cards are guaranteed to make the field. Exemptions issued to the low 12 finishers from the previous year's Championship.

Men's Senior Flight - Open to all male amateur golfers 50 years of age and over. Must have a current index of 6.0 or less as of June 1 through an active membership in an SCGA or USGA club or index system. After the entry period has closed, the tournament committee will compile the twenty-eight (28) players with the lowest indexes to participate in the championship. Exemptions issued to the low 6 finishers from the previous year's Championship.

Women's Flight - Open to all female amateur golfers 18 years of age and over. Must have a current index of 9.0 or less as of June 1 through an active membership in an SCGA or USGA club or index system. After the entry period has closed, the tournament committee will compile the twenty (20) players with the lowest indexes to participate in the championship. Exemptions issued to the low 6 finishers from the previous year's Championship.

View Complete Tournament Information

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