That is, until today.

Tanner Hughes played nearly flawless golf on Sunday at a challenging Poppy Hills Golf Course, fresh off a 2013/2014 redesign by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The course plays almost links-like and requires the type of shotmaking that Hughes was able to demonstrate.

And relatively new greens that had received quite a bit of rain didn't stop him from making the big putts, including an 8-footer for birdie on the par- 5 18th, with his next closest opponent, first round leader Sean Crocker of USC, looking at a nearly sure birdie from close range.

"I thought the putt was probably to win," said Hughes, who added, "I hit the green in two, but left the first putt short and was glad to finish off the round that way."

Hughes is currently a redshirt freshman at Cal, and if he continues to play like this he'll likely find himself traveling with the team next year.

Until then, he has vaulted to the top of the AmateurGolf.com Tour rankings and will take home not only the two titles he won in December, but the title of "Player-of-the-Year" as well. Not a bad way to close out 2014.

SENIOR AND NET DIVISIONS

Mark Miller and Dale Bouguennec tied at 145 after shooting bookend tournament rounds of 71- 74 (Bouguennec) and 74-71 (Miller). After finishing the final hole tied, they headed to the tight-driving hole No. 1 for a playoff. Miller won with a par after splitting the fairway while Bouguennec had to settle for bogey after finding the trees left off the tee.

Still, Bouguennec, a very consistent (and long) golfer from Pleasant Hill, has had an excellent month of December. He tied for the lowest score in both the Christmas Classic and Tour Championship, but had to playoff with two of California's best Seniors; first Casey Boyns at Del Monte and then Mark Miller today.

Net winner Andrew Zacks (L) w/ Sr champ Mark Miller

Miller, from Antioch, will win the Senior Player- of-the-Year title again in 2014 - congratulations!

The Net field, playing the same tees as the seniors, was topped by Andrew Zacks of San Francisco. Zacks posted a gross 79 for net 70 in the first round, and followed with a 81 net 72 on Sunday to win by 4 shots over Chris Ladd.

Zacks made things a bit interesting by playing a little "hockey" around the hole on the 17th green (hey, we all do it from time to time) but his caddie Audra Keppler, the 2014 NCGA Women's Am champ and newly-turned pro, lightened things up by asking a non golf question as they walked off the green.

"What's your favorite food Andrew?"

A pro golfer, and pro caddie too.