Champion Jamie Cheatham (right) with runner-up Josh McCollum
CARLSBAD, California (Jan. 8, 2018) -- Any golfer will tell you, that when one player in a group is making it look easy, the good play seems to be contagious. But unfortunately for the round one leaders of the AmateurGolf.com La Costa Classic, the opposite is true.
So, we had Jamie Cheatham (Rancho Santa Fe), Josh McCollum (Upland) and Clay Seeber (Newport Beach) playing a group in front of the leaders, and lighting up the 6956-yard Legends Course. Cheatham took off on the first tee at even par after a solid round at the Champions, and he posted 69 to get to 3-under for the 36-hole tournament.
McCollum, coming off a 1-under 71, posted 72 to finish two shots behind him at 1-under 143. Seeber shaved 3-shots off his first round 74 to post 71 and 1-over for the tournament. The three players would finish 1-2-3 as the leading group fell victim to the Legend Course's greens and slightly more challenging layout.
First round leader Shiryu (Leo) Oyo couldn't keep pace with his first round 68, after posting 147 he would finish fifth. Sneaking into a tie for fourth at 146 was defending champ Jake Williams (Temecula) (74-72=146) and Justin Vrzich of El Cajon (73-73).
Vrzich pulled off the bounce back of the day -- after making triple on the 8th hole he "let out a few emotions" and pulled himself together to eagle the 9th.
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Senior winner David Oas (left)
with runner-up Scott Stewart |
SENIOR DIVISION - LA COSTA MEMBERS OAS, AND STEWART FINISH 1-2
For David Oas of Carlsbad, winning the tournament wasn't a formality, but he had a nice 4-shot lead to sleep on thanks to a 2-under 70 on Sunday on Champions. He held off a late challenge today from fellow member Scott Stewart to post 73 and a 1-under 143 total.
"I've been playing well lately so this was nice," said Oas - who will turn the magic 55 this year and become eligible for all senior events.
His fellow La Costa member Stewart (Carlsbad) shot his second-straight 74 to finish at 148, while Jim Ream of Cerritos took third at 151.
ROUND ONE SUMMARY
CARLSBAD, California (Jan. 7, 2018) -- Shiryu (Leo) Oyo picked apart the Champions Course at La Costa Resort today, posting 4-under 68 for a 3-shot lead at the AGC La Costa Classic.
Oyo, a top AJGA golfer who will attend San Diego State, rode aa hot putter to a 4-under 32 on the front nine. After an early bogey on No. 2 he set the stage for how things would go the rest of the day with a birdie-birdie-eagle run on Nos. 3-6.
A birdie at the hardest par 3 on the course (the 223-yard 12th) got Oyo to 5-under. He would give one shot back at No. 17 with a bogey, but heads into the final round at the Legends Course tomorrow in command of the tournament.
Giving chase after rounds of 1-under 71 are Chris Casey (Irvine), Josh McCollum (Upland), and Thomas Strandemo, who is enjoying a nice escape from Delano, Minnesota. Strandemo is a 2017 graduate of Louisiana University.
Defending champion Jake Williams wasn't overly excited about his first round 74, although he isn't out of it by any means. That's probably because of the way he started the round -- by dunking a wedge for an eagle-two on the first hole.
"It was probably the least exciting hole out ever," said his playing partner Kyle Rector. "The green is elevated so we didn't see it go in, but the marshal did say 'nice shot.' We didn't realize he had holed out until Jake told us he made a two."
SENIOR DIVISION: LA COSTA MEMBER OAS TAKE CHARGE
David Oas of Carlsbad posted 2-under 70 to pace the over-50 senior division by four shots. Oas birdied the second and third holes, then added an eagle on No. 6 on his way to a 3-under 33 on the front. He briefly got to 4-under when he birdied the 10th, but admitted to playing a little safer the rest of the way in.
"I played a little bit in fear on the back," said Oas.
Like Oyo in the championship division, Oas enjoys a 3-shot lead heading into Monday's final round. He is trailed by fellow La Costa member Scott Stewart of San Diego, Stephen Friend of Torrance, and Jim Ream of Cerritos. Cyrus Whitney of Tucson is another shot back after a 75.
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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