BERKELEY, Calif. (Aug. 3, 2008)--In one of the most dramatic finishes in recent amateurgolf.com Tournament Series memory, Philippine National Team member Antonio Asistio holed out a 60-yard wedge shot for birdie on the par-4 18th hole to force a playoff with St. Mary's College golf coach Scott Hardy at the Tilden Park Golf Course, site of the 70th annual amateurgolf.com Bay Regional.

Both golfers had identical cards of 69-66--135, five strokes under par.

Asistio sealed the victory on the second playoff hole when he two-putted for par after knocking his approach shot to within 15 feet of the tricky back pin placement. Hardy's approach shot found the front of the green, where he couldn't convert the two-putt from 40 feet to force another playoff hole.

"This is a breakthrough win for me," said Asistio. "My teammates (on the national team) are always giving me a hard time because I haven't won anything in two years."

Hardy, a Pleasant Hill resident, seemed poised at several times to seize the victory, particularly when he ripped off a run of five straight birdies on holes 12-15, then seemed to have Asistio on the ropes with a one-stroke lead heading into the final hole.

On the first playoff hole Asistio pulled off another scrambling feat to stay alive after a wayward drive. After punching back into the fairway, the Manila native chipped to within seven feet and made the putt to save par. Moments earlier Hardy sunk a 10-foot par putt to put the pressure on.

Despite the tough-luck runner-up finish, Hardy still can be happy in what could be considered a solid tune-up for his run at the Pacific Coast Amateur, which starts Tuesday in Victoria, British Columbia. Hardy will represent the NCGA.

Senior Flight

Jim Williams of Orinda simply won't allow anyone to take the title that he has owned since amateurgolf.com added a senior division to the tournament three years ago. This year's threepeat was a close finish, but his second-round 79 held up thanks to an impressive 73 on Day 1. Jim Miller of Berkeley was the runner-up at 153.

Net Flight

Korsen Yu, a 14 handicap from Sunyvale, carded a second-round net 66 to top current amateurgolf.com - Bridgestone Golf net points leader James Grensted in a card off. Both golfers finished at 136. It was Yu's first victory in an amateurgolf.com event.

Tournament notes

Going into the final round, the two co-leaders in the race for the amateurgolf.com - Bridgestone Golf Player of the Year title, Chris Marin and Randy Haag where together in the final group after firing first-day scores of 69 and 67, respectively. At tournament's end, neither golfer could gain the upper hand as they tied for third at 3-under 137.

Fred Luper of Suisun had the shot of the tourney when he nearly drove the green on the par-4 third hole, then chipped in for eagle (white tees aren't all that bad!).

Eighty-five-year-old Leonard Pytel, the tournament director for the Bay Regional from 1966 to the late 70's (when the tournament was run by the Tilden Park Men's Club) was on the course checking out the action on Sunday.

A special thanks goes out to the entire Tilden Park staff for their help in keeping the tourney running smoothly, as well as the ambassadors out on the course volunteering as spotters.

Full results from the 6,294-yard, par-70 Tilden Park Golf Course follow: