Alex Chin (Pleasanton, Calif.) won the 4th annual McClure Cup at Bayonet - Black Horse GC in Seaside, Calif., withstanding an early challenge from Justin Gums (Lodi, Calif.) and pulling away from the field for a two-shot final advantage.
Chin, a junior at the University of San Francisco, had shown good form coming into the event, having finished second in the AmateurGolf.com Winter Invitational at Corica Park in Alameda, Calif. shortly before Christmas.
This week, he started fast with rounds of 67-69 that included 11 birdies and an eagle. On Sunday, he started the final round three shots ahead of Gums, but the TCU sophomore pulled ahead after a birdie at the 7th hole and a slow start by Chin.
But Chin would respond with two birdies on the next three holes to retake the lead, and when Gums hit a rough patch early on the second nine -- losing five shots in as many holes -- Chin was in the clear. He closed with a 73 (after starting three over though seven) for a 7-under 209 total.
Wenliang Xie of China and Seton Hall University finished second at 5 under, and was the only player in the field to break par in all three rounds.
There was a four-way tie for third at 2 under: Nicklaus Rivera (San Rafael, Calif), Connor Motherway (Reno, Nev.), Matt Cohn (San Francisco, Calif.) and Gums, who shot a 75 in the final round after a 64 on Saturday.
Alex Chin goes wire-to-wire at the McClure Cup
The University of San Francisco junior starts 2020 with a two shot win at Bayonet - Black Horse