Baron Nguyen Dominates at Southern California Match Play Championship
8/14/2025 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: View results for Southern California Match Play, Victoria Club
The 17-year-old UCLA commit lit up Victoria Club with fearless golf, back-to-back eagles, and a wire-to-wire win.
By the time Baron Nguyen tapped in on the 15th green of Riverside’s Victoria Club, the gallery knew they had seen something special. The 17-year-old from Southern California, already bound for UCLA, had just finished a three-day run of golf so relentless that his name might as well be etched into the course’s memory.
Over five matches in the Southern California Match Play Championship, Nguyen never seemed to let up. He played 80 holes at an eye-popping 29-under par, and more than just the numbers told the story. It was the rhythm — the confident stride off the tee, the way his putter seemed magnetized to the cup, and the killer instinct to close out matches before opponents could find a second wind.
A Lightning Start, Every Time
Some players take a few holes to settle into match play. Not Nguyen. He birdied the first hole in all five matches, immediately putting pressure on his opponents. By the final day, that opening salvo felt inevitable. In the championship match, it was no different — one hole in, and John Kim was already trailing.
Championship Day: Eagles and a Finish to Remember
On Wednesday, Nguyen faced the gauntlet of semifinal and final play, a total of just 33 holes. He played them in 12-under par, including a spectacular burst late in the afternoon — back-to-back eagles on Nos. 14 and 15. The second eagle didn’t just slam the door; it locked it, bolted it, and tossed away the key, ending the match 5&3.
Kim, to his credit, stayed within a single hole through the front nine. But after the turn, Nguyen shifted into another gear, winning four of the next six holes and sealing the biggest victory of his blossoming career.
By the Numbers
- 29-under for the week across 80 holes
- 5-for-5 in birdies on the opening hole
- 2 eagles in the final match, including the clincher
- 5 wins in three days
“This is the biggest win of my career so far,” Nguyen said afterward. Given the way he dismantled one of the toughest match play fields in the state, it’s hard to imagine it will be his last.
About the Southern California Match Play
The Match Play and Senior Match Play championships began in 2008 as a means of bringing new credence and incentive to the SCGA points program. The SCGA points program awards points to golfers who give strong performances in SCGA, USGA, CGA and other ...
Most Popular Articles
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced
Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing
2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage LIVE SCORING
Dec 8, 2025Full 2025 LPGA Q-School (Q-Series) schedule, results, and leaderboard updates
Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
Playing with the Stewart Golf Q Follow: Full Hands-Free Cart Review
Nov 18, 2025Can a hands-free electric cart actually improve your round? I put the Stewart Q Follow to the test over 9 holes to find out.
Luke Ringkamp Cruises to Rolex Tournament of Champions Title at TPC San Antonio
Nov 26, 2025One week after committing to Pepperdine, Luke Ringkamp won the Rolex Tournament of Champions by nine shots.