Mitchell Hoey of Alamo, Calif., hit what he called the "best flop shot of his entire life" to set up a birdie on No. 17 to win the Championship Division of the AmateurGolf.com 2024 San Diego Amateur, presented by Callaway Golf at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, Calif., by one shot.

Hoey finished 5-under, while Alexander Elia of Coronado, Calif., finished in solo second place at 4-under. Elia was 6-under with two holes remaining, but he made a double bogey on No. 17 to fall to 4-under.

As Hoey entered the final stretch of holes, he knew he needed a birdie to avoid a playoff with Elia in the clubhouse at 4-under.

"I was watching the scoreboard for the last three holes," Hoey said. "I was trying to avoid it for the most part, but I knew where I was and wanted to see what was in (the clubhouse)."

The senior at St. Mary's College by way of De La Salle High School followed up the birdie on No. 17 with an impressive par on the difficult No. 18.

"I told myself just to grab a two iron and get it on the ground and running," Hoey said. He made a three-footer for the par to secure the win. 

"I just went through my process and tried to slow everything down and go through my process," Hoey said about the final putts.

Hoey also won the 2024 Sacramento City Championship.

First-round leader Brady Clark of San Diego, Calif., finished in solo third place at 3-under. Hudson Ross of Austin, Tex., finished in solo fourth place at even par and Jonathan Lewis of Yorba Linda, Calif., finished in solo fifth place at 3-over to round out the top five.

Dick Engel of Lancaster, Calif., won the Senior Championship in a playoff over Jeffrey Freeman of Carlsbad, Calif. 

The retired law enforcement officer finished 1-over with rounds of 75-70, but a bogey on No. 18 forced the playoff with Freeman. The playoff hole was No. 1, and Engel won with a birdie after he had a 75-yard approach shot that he put below the hole.

"I hit a lot of greens," Engel said. "I drove the ball well and only missed one green. My pace was a lot better on the greens, and I made some putts. I missed a couple of short ones but made my fair share as well."

Kory Frost of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., Edward Susolik of Newport Beach, Calif., and Jason Pridmore of Ventura, Calif., all finished T3 at 2-over to round out the top five.

"I didn't look at the leaderboard until my second shot on No. 18," Engel said." I figured I would just keep my head down and play."

Hudson Ross of Austin, Tex., won the Mid-Amateur Division by 13 shots after finishing even par and Kory Frost of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., won the Super Senior Division with a score of 2-over. He defeated Daniel Sivadge of El Cajon, Calif., by one shot.