MONTEREY, Calif. (December 5, 2010) -- It's now official. The Amateurgolf.com Tournament Series has it's first French Champion, Joel Stalter. Stalter, a member of the well-represented Cal Berkeley golf team, kept the title in the Cal family with an untouchable 66, playing the ball down on a slightly soggy Del Monte Golf Course. On the heals of a 2-under 68 on Saturday at Pacific Grove, Stalter posted a tournament total of 8-under 134 for a 6 stroke victory over Randy Haag, Dino Giacomazzi, and fellow Cal Bear Stephen Hale.
Stalter was playing Del Monte for the first time, and he admitted that the combination of some help from his playing companions on where to hit it and the "what you don't know won't hurt you" may have helped a bit.
"A lot of times, I hit a shot and when I got to the green I thought, 'this is a good place to have left it,'" explained Stalter after the round. With pins tucked into some of their toughest positions, he was able to convert the birdie putts and stay away from bogeys or worse.
After posting 34 on the front nine, Stalter birdied the first three holes to start the back, recorded his only bogey of the day on the long par-3 14th, bounced back with a birdie on the tricky 15th, and added one more on the par-5 17th to shoot 32 on the back nine. Judging from his play over the weekend, and the number of his teammates in the top-10 -- Casey Boyns said we should rename it the "Cal Bear Classic" -- it promises to be another solid season for the University of California team.
And by the way, we expect to see many of them at the December 18-19 Tour Championship at Stevinson Ranch, and the Inaugural Alister MacKenzie Cup at Pasatiempo on Jan. 9-10. It's not too late to register for either event.
SENIOR DIVISION
In the Senior Division, Steve Donnelly of Salinas posted a fine 2-under 68 at Pacific Grove Golf Links, just one stroke higher than the best score posted by the championship players the day before. Donnelly made five birdies, in posting nines of 33-35.
NET and WOMEN
John Borrelli of Newman posted 141 net to win the net division; his net 67 at Pacific Grove was based on a solid gross round of 81 with a 14 handicap. Jennifer Brumbaugh won the women's division, the Scotts Valley resident posted a solid 78 at Del Monte and backed it up with a 75 at Pacific Grove Golf Links.
Note: Championship scores are posted below. To view women's and net scores, click here.
ABOUT THE AGC Christmas Classic
>> TOUR PORTAL | PHOTO GALLERY
The Christmas Classic was
founded by 2-time
California State Amateur Champion Casey
Boyns over 20 years ago and it always
attracts
a great field. This is our most popular event,
and year in and year out it sells out. Field
limited to 104 players; Championship, Senior,
and Net divisions.
Your entry fee includes two rounds of
golf
(cart at players expense), $4500 in
Callaway Golf certificate prizes,
$20 lunch certificate,
and a
great
weekend at one of the Monterey Peninsula's
wonderful classic courses, "Old" Del Monte.
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. Net players will
play in the Net Division but from a shorter tee.
View Complete Tournament Information