Nathan Clark surges on final day to claim the Inland Empire Amateur
RIVERSIDE, CA (September 5, 2016) -- After beginning the final day of the Inland Empire Amateur three behind Nathan Clark put together the low round of the week with a 6-under 65 to finish at 8-under and three-strokes ahead.
Clark, a sophomore at Cal Poly, had a mundane start to his final round at Victoria Club with five straight pars. However, back-to-back birdies on the 6th and 7th holes got him going. Despite a bogey on the 9th Clark had hit his stride and on the closing nine he carded five birdies to finish with a blistering bogey-free 5-under 31.
The birdies for Clark came on the 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th and 17th holes.
Chad Hambright matched Clark's low round of the week with a 6-under 66 of his own, as he finished 5-under and in second place. Hambright parred his first hole before rolling in four straight birds on Nos. 2-5 and after he eagled the par-5 7th he was able to sign for an outward 6-under 29. On the back nine Hambright cooled off a bit with three birdies, two bogeys and a costly double-bogey.
36-hole leader Brandon Tsujimoto, a senior at UC Riverside, ended up tied for third with Cal State Northridge senior Sam Engel at 4-under. Rounding out the top-five is first round leader Ryan Smith who completed the weekend 2-under.
ABOUT THE Inland Empire Amateur
The Inland Empire Amateur Championship is
a
three day event played at three courses in an
area
where Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernadino
and
Orange Counties all come together. Format is 54
holes of stroke play with the top 40% advancing to
the final round. Played each year over Labor Day
weekend.
Flights:
Championship Flight - 5.0 and below
First Flight - 5.1 to 9.0
Second Flight - 9.1 to 15.0
View Complete Tournament Information