Joshua McCarthy (Conner Penfold photo)
How do you follow up a 66? Typically it isn’t done by setting the competitive course record the next day. But for Pepperdine fifth-year senior
Joshua McCarthy, that was how Sunday afternoon played out at Corica Park Golf Course.
McCarthy entered the final round of the AmateurGolf.com Winter Invitational tied for the lead with
Brett Thawley, but quickly distanced himself from Thawley and the rest of the field with six front-nine birdies en route to a 64 and an impressive six-shot win.
“I really just tried to stay in the present,” McCarthy said. “I honestly lost track of where I was in relation to par. I kind of looked up and realized where I was at the end.”
McCarthy, who grew up on the other side of the East Bay Hills in Danville, was able to play this year’s Winter Invitational because the pandemic granted him an extra year of collegiate eligibility. After a tied-for-fourth place showing in 2019, he returned to Corica Park’s newly-renovated South Course with an ideal combination of ball-striking and putting.
“My iron game was real solid and I felt like I did a good job of converting those opportunities inside 10-15 feet,” McCarthy said. “So when I hit a good shot, I was able to keep the momentum going by making the putt.”
Making 16 birdies over the course of two rounds, McCarthy managed to birdie five of the holes on both occasions, including holes 1,6,8, and 9 on the front side where he combined to shoot 63 between Saturday and Sunday.
Taking second place with rounds of 69 and 67 was 15-year old
Leonardo Vieira of San Leandro, who grew up playing Corica Park regularly as part of their junior program.
Thawley, the first-round co-leader, fired 74 on Sunday to finish in a tie for fourth place with
Kurtis Rodriguez,
Nathan Wang, and
Sean Yu, with
Ethan Ashbrook grabbing third at 6-under.
Thawley won the low mid-amateur prize by two shots over
Weston Payne.
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Antonia Malate
San Jose State junior
Antonia Malate birdied four of her last six holes to secure a three-shot win over Cal Poly sophomore
Elizabeth Scholtes. The Alameda native Scholtes was going down to the wire with Malate until bogeys at 16 and 17 had her settle for a runner-up finish.
University of Northern Colorado sophomore
Abigail Fleiner, who shared the first-round co-lead with Malate and Scholtes, posted 74 in her final round and took third.
SENIOR DIVISION
Low SS Frank Pieper, Dave Bunfill
of Plymouth overcame a first-round 76 to edge out a one-stroke victory over a group of talented contestants. Bunfill’s Sunday 72, which featured four birdies, put him one stroke ahead of
Randy Haag,
Chris Hyland,
Jim Williams, and opening-round leader
Frank Pieper.
Pieper, who won a senior title in this tournament two years ago, won the prize for low super senior.
NET DIVISION
Playing in his second AmateurGolf.com tournament,
Tom Natividad of Walnut Creek outlasted last year's winner
John Scott Senz by four shots. Michael Wu of Milpitas finished third.
Thanks to Brett Morrison and the entire staff at Corica Park for helping make the event a huge success while keeping everyone safe. And thanks to Alameda Commuters committeeman Bob Blanchard for helping us start players off the first tee both days.
ABOUT THE AGC Winter Invitational
>> TOUR PORTAL
The Winter Invitational is now open to all
players who satisfy the handicap
requirements.
Join us at the completely renovated Corica Park
South Course -- it's the home course of
AmateurGolf.com!
This is a gross competition with Championship and
Senior divisions. There will be no Net
division.
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.
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.
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