Torey Edwards has been right there at the Long Beach City Amateur time and time again. The Long Beach local finished runner-up each of the past two years, and was in the top 5 the two years before that. It took a little bit of extra golf on Sunday, but Edwards, a crowd favorite, finally got his title.
Edwards finished 54 holes at three venues (Skylinks at Long Beach, Recreation Park GC and El Dorado Park GC) with a 10-under total, but so did Jin Zihao of San Diego and Ryan Bisharat of El Cajon. All three went to sudden death, where Edwards came out ahead despite being a mid-am up against two collegians (Zihao plays for San Diego State and Bisharat plays for Cal State San Marcos).
Edwards was impressive all week, with rounds of 73-65-68. Tournament officials call him a local legend. His list of accomplishments goes back through his days playing at Long Beach State, to when he set what is still the course record (58) at Long Beach's Recreation Park GC. His win in a city amateur that dates to 1926 was very well-received.
Behind the three men at 10 under, two more men finished the week at 7 under and in a tie for fourth. That included Josh McCollum of Upland, Calif., and Joshua Matz of Agoura Hills, Calif.
Edwards a worthy champion at Long Beach City Amateur
Edwards has been in the mix at this event for the past four years, and finally won it in a playoff.