California State Fair Amateur: Hathcoat pushes ahead with 64

The California State Fair completed play on Sunday with three champions crowned and the Men's Championship set up for an exciting final round. Six players were tied for the lead heading into Sunday’s second round at Haggin Oaks: Alister MacKenzie Course. The same cannot be said following Sunday’s round. None of the round one leaders matched their Saturday score. Following a first round 2-under 70, Blake Hathcoat (St. Mary’s) fired an 8-under 64 to take a one-shot lead over three players heading into Monday's final round. Out in 33, Hathcoat played his final nine holes at five under par, capping his round with an eagle three on the 18th. Jackson Lake shot a 67 to move into a second-place tie at 9 under with first-round co-leaders Finigan Tilly and Brett Viboch. Another 13 players within four shots of Hathcoat. With 18 holes remaining, the field was trimmed to 47 players following a 36 hole cut at two under par. Play resumes at 7:00 am local time with 18 holes to play. Women’s Division Carding a 7-under 65 on Saturday, Tess Blair was able to separate herself by five strokes as the field went into the final round on Sunday. Blair, a sophomore at Sacramento State from South Jordan, Utah, won the Big Sky Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards in 2019-20. Starting her final round with a bogey, it looked as though Blair might allow the big lead play a factor. But she regained the dropped stroke immediately with a birdie on No. 2, and Blair was steady for much of the day, tallying nine consecutive pars. On the par three 12th, Blair hit a bump in the road with a double bogey. Once again rallying, Blair circled three straight birdies on hole Nos. 14-16. Capping the round off with a bogey on No. 17 and a par on No. 18, Blair got back to seven under for the tournament, finishing off the event with a seven-shot victory and the only player under par. C. Sorensen shot the low final round, a 3-under 69, to move into solo second place at even par. Another three players were tied for third at 1 over par. Senior Division Following a first round 65, good for a two-shot lead, Chris Miller left room for error on Sunday. Posting a final-round 71, he went on to claim the State Fair Senior Championship at Mather GC. Miller got off to a slow start as he was two over through seven holes. Picking up one of the dropped shots on the par 4 eighth, he got back to red numbers on the day with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 for the second day in a row. Parring out from No. 14 on, Miller carded a 37/34 split, two clear of his nearest competitor. The defending (and three-time) champion Mark Morgan came up with his second 69 finishing two shots shy in second place. Joey Ferrari finished the event at five under par with rounds of 71-68 in a tie for third with David Bills who was just two shots off of Miller’s pace overnight. Super Senior Charles Richesin held the super senior lead following Saturday’s first round. Unable to build upon his opening one-under 71, Richesin made room on the leaderboard for a surge from the middle of the pack. Emerging from the group of four players who went under par on Sunday was Jeff Burda. Burda rebounded from his Saturday 74 with a four-under 68 to take the win. Tallying six birdies on the day, Burda was three shots better on both nines en route to his comeback victory. Ron Johnson finished one shot back with rounds of 73-70 for a one under par finish. Richesin was joined by Michael Donnelly in a two-way tie for third.