Pepperdine commit Kailer Stone stays steady to win AGC Winter Invitational
12/15/2024 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
see also: View results for AGC Winter Invitational, San Juan Oaks Golf Club
Stone shot a final round of 3-under 69 to get to even par and secure the win in the championship division by three shots
After dealing with rain and winds north of 40 miles per hour in the first round of the AmateurGolf.com Winter Invitational at Corica Park, the South Course, in Alameda, Calif., golfers were treated to better conditions and lower scores in the second and final round.
The South Course at Corica Park is the home course of AmateurGolf.com.
Pepperdine commit and class of 2026 graduate Kailer Stone of Alameda, Calif., was able to take advantage of the conditions, shooting a 3-under 69 after a first-round 3-over 75.
"I think I played solid today," Stone said. "Yesterday's round was tough with the wind and rain, so coming out here, I wanted to focus on myself and put myself in a good spot."
Stone recorded five birdies and two bogeys as a crowd of 20-25 people followed the local favorite around the course. Holes No. 10, 11, and 12 were noted as the most difficult on the course, and Stone made it through that stretch just 1-over to keep his lead.
"Obviously, it is hard not to focus on other people when you are playing with them," Stone said. "Sam (Higaki) was making a lot of birdies on the back nine, so I tried to focus on my own game."
The rest of the leaderboard was packed up, with Alejandro Formosa of San Mateo, Calif., Sam Higaki of San Mateo, Calif., and Aidan Lee of Pasadena, Calif., all finished T2 at 2-over, while four other golfers finished T5 at 3-over. Formosa made the final 16 of the 2024 San Francisco City Championship.
Eleven golfers finished within five shots of the winner, Stone.
Craig Miyamoto of Sacramento, Calif., won the Senior Division for the second straight season, this time with ease, shooting 2-over with rounds of 77-69 and securing the six-shot win.
"After yesterday, today was a lot easier," Miyamoto said. "I was just trying to play the course and see how low I could go."
Miyamoto also emphasized how difficult the start of the back nine was, even though he went par-par-bogey. Miyamoto recorded five birdies and two bogeys.
"I still haven’t figured out twelve," Miyamoto said with a laugh.
Bob LeDoux of Anderson, Calif., finished in solo second place at 8-over, and Daniel O'Connor of San Francisco, Calif., finished in solo third place at 10-over.
Emma Wang of Palo Alto, Calif., won the Women's Division by four shots over Victoria Cui of Atherton, Calif. Wang carded rounds of 76-75 to finish 7-over.
"I think I played okay," Wang said. "I could have done better. There were a few holes that I repeated the same mistakes."
Along with Miyamoto and Stone, those mistakes came on holes No. 10,11, and 12, as she bogeyed all three in the final round.
Cui finished in solo second place and Yu Bai of Saratoga, Calif., finished in solo third place at 14-over.
Grant Norton of Alameda, Calif., won the Mid-Amateur Division at 5-over, beating out first round leader Adam Barkow of Oakland, Calif., by three shots as Barkow finished in solo second place at 8-over.
Established in 2001, the AmateurGolf.com Tour, presented by Callaway, hosts competitive amateur golf events at amazing courses across the country. Past winners of AGC tour events include PGA Tour players, top-ranked collegiate players, and nationally ranked senior and mid-am players.
AmateurGolf.com events offer divisions for male, female, senior, mid-am, and net players.
About the AGC Winter Invitational
2025 TOURNAMENT PORTAL The Winter Invitational is open to all players who satisfy the handicap requirements. Join us at the completely renovated San Juan Oaks Golf Club. We are proud to bring this gorgeous and challenging course designed by Fred Coup...
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