YORBA LINDA, Calif. (August 12, 2007) -- David Staszko won the North Orange County Amateur today by three strokes, thanks to a tournament-low final round of 2-under 70.

Up against a solid field that included six members of the Philippine National Golf Team and several college and high school standouts, Staszko won his first tournament by shaking off a tough start and grinding out the chips and putts that are so crucial to scoring well on Black Gold's tricky green-surrounds.

Staszko, 20, saved bogey on the first hole after his second shot bounded off the left fringe and into the hazard behind the green. He took a drop, got up-and-down, and immediately came back with a two-putt birdie on the driveable par four second hole.

Making the turn in 1-over 37, Staskzo caught a bit of fire with birdies on Nos. 12 and 13, the latter when his father and caddie Greg convinced him to go for the green in two with a hybrid club from 210 yards.

"Good advice," he later admitted.

The father and son pair have traveled together to more than 20 amateurgolf.com events over the past three years, picking up several top 10's and low individual rounds. Last week at the Bay Regional in Berkeley (a major NCGA event) Staszko finished seventh.

While amateurgolf.com events do not have standard-bearers or leaderboards, word of Staszko's lead worked it's way to him via two members of the Philippine National Team, who were frequently giving each other status reports.

"I got a little nervous when I thought I might be tied for the lead when Eugene (Bunyi) got an update on sixteen," said Staszko. "Then, when I birdied seventeen, I got really excited."

Staszko gave himself a bit more reason to be nervous on No. 18, the water-guarded par 5 with the clubhouse and gallery behind the green. He pushed his 5-iron second shot into the right rough, then hit a controlled wedge to 10 feet and safely two-putted for par.

Dave Baydala played very solid golf in winning the Senior Division at 5-over 149, while Randy Eck defended his net title with a final round 66 for 6-under 138. "I was leaking oil towards the end, but I got the job done," said Eck, a 14-handicapper who fired an 80 to record a Tiger-like victory.

* * * Final results from the 2nd Annual amateurgolf.com North Orange County Amateur, played at the 6430 yard, Par 72 Black Gold Golf Club: