Jake Williams wins AGC La Costa Classic
Champion Jake Williams (2nd right) with Runner-up Justin Chong (far right)
T3 were Joshua Diaz (far left) and Robin Kang (2nd left)
CARLSBAD, California (Jan. 9, 2017) -- On a tournament day that almost wasn't, Jake Williams battled through a rainy front nine at the La Costa Legends Course to win the inaugural AmateurGolf.com La Costa Classic by 2 shots. The Cal State San Marcos golfer (from Temecula) started off with a bogey on Monday, but played the rest of the holes on the 3710 yard (and playing all of that and more) back nine in even par to hold on to his two shot advantage from Sunday. Williams' two round total was 2-under par -- he was the only player in the 60s after posting 3-under 69 on the Champions Course.
Justin Chong finished in solo second at even par 108 after posting 38 on top of his 2-under 70 from Sunday. Three players tied for 3rd at 1-over. Pepperdine golfer Robin Kang; Joshua Diaz of Regis University, and high schooler Hudson Ross. Ross made the longest trek to play the event, coming in from Austin, Texas in a trip that combined playing a tournament with looking at both San Diego State and University of San Diego. A Monday low-round tying 36 vaulted Ross into the tie for third.
The back nine on Legends, incidentally, was half of the composite course that made La Costa famous for hosting the PGA Tour from the 1960s through 2006.
WOMEN'S DIVISION
University of Arizona golfer Haley Moore made it two-for-two in AmateurGolf.com Winter Series events, taking home both of our San Diego "Tour stops." (She won the San Diego Amateur at Aviara last month.) Entering the final round tied with Daniela Anastasi (San Diego State) at 1-under par, Moore finished birdie-birdie for a 35 to hold off Anastasi's late charge that started with a lead-tying birdie on the 7th hole.
Moore took the lead back with a birdie on No. 8, and held on to it as both players birdied the par-5 9th. That's the kind of golf we love to see, and even better, all the 9 women showed up ready to play in the rain. Rounding out the top three was Alexandra Cooper of San Clemente. She posted 38 on Monday after a 73 on Sunday.
SENIOR & NET DIVISIONS
Rick Goolsby of Fullerton, playing in his first AmateurGolf.com event, took home the Senior title by 2 shots after posting a 1-over 37 today on top of his opening round of 73 on the Champions Course. Bruce Loman of Newport Coast shot the lowest round of the day Monday, finishing birdie-birdie to post an even par 36 that moved him into solo second. Rounding out the top-3 was Tom McKee of Carlsbad, who shot 38 on top of his first round 76.
ABOUT THE AmateurGolf.com La Costa Classic
Second year event at the completely remodeled La
Costa Resort. Scratch, Senior Scratch, and Net
Divisions. Rounds are on
Sunday
and Monday at both the Champions and Legends
courses, which have hosted Arnold Palmer, Jack
Nicklaus in the Tournament of Champions days, and
Phil, Tiger, and many more in the World Match Play
days. (La Costa has also hosted the California State
Amateur.) It was at La Costa that Tiger won the first
9 holes (shooting something crazy like 27 on the
front nine) against Stephen Ames 9-and-8 in the
2006 Cadillac Match Play. AmateurGolf.com was
there, and we've been in love with La Costa ever
since. You'll love it to.
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