Dublin resident Joey Hayden came up clutch when it mattered the most.

Hayden, a 22-year-old junior-to-be at University of Santa Clara, made an eagle on the par-5 18th hole at Poppy Hills on Sunday to hold off AJ Fitzgerald by a stroke and win the annual NCGA Amateur Stroke Play Championship. It's the first NCGA title for Hayden, who in 2022 helped De La Salle High win a CIF State title.

"This is an important win for me. I've been working hard on my game and it's good to see the results," said Hayden, who finished with a record 54-hole total of 10-under 203, eclipsing Daniel Connolly's previous record of 204. "The events the NCGA puts on, we all appreciate it and we have a lot of fun out there." 

In what was a tense finish, both Hayden and Fitzgerald came to the tee at 18 tied at a total of 8-under par. Hayden's second shot, a 3-wood from 248 yards out in the fairway, landed just off the green, 12 feet away from the flagstick. Fitzgerald's second, from just off the cart path, found the deep-front greenside bunker. Fitzgerald hit a brilliant bunker shot to within 5 feet of the hole, but it wouldn't matter, as Hayden went on to make his putt for a final round 68 and the win.

"The pin was tucked right. I'd by lying if I said I was going for the flagstick. I was trying to get to the center of the green.," Hayden said. "I was trying to just make a four. If I made a three, I made a three. I did and I was pleased with that."