“It’s so critical that you’re in the correct pocket of the green if you’re going to make any score less than par,” Engellenner said of the club’s notoriously-challenging greens.
The only player to finish the 36-hole event in red figures, the 44-year old trailed first-round leader Kyle Kinnane by five prior to his 9:30 a.m. tee time on an unseasonably warm San Diego day. But he found himself in the proper areas of the green and saw putts begin to fall as a result.
Engellenner’s 68 is even more impressive when you consider the two double-bogeys that were marked on his closing nine’s scorecard on Monday. He moved past what he called “preventable” mistakes and won his fifth event since the beginning of 2021.
Most notably, he fired an unreal 62 on the final day of the Sacramento City Championship to claim the tournament’s 100th running. He also picked up wins at the Dixie Amateur (Mid-Master Division) as well as the Tony Lema Amateur to wrap up his individual feats. He teamed up to capture the Trans-Miss Four-Ball title with Domingo Jojola, one of three Northern California mid-amateur talents that Engellenner says have helped improve his game.
“I ran into a new circle of friends that played more of the state-level championships, specifically Domingo Jojola, Brett Viboch, and Bobby Bucey,” Engellenner said. “Playing against those guys every week and every tournament really showed me where I’m weak, and so I spent the last 18 months comparing myself to some of the best players in Northern California.
“That’s really sharpening your swords against those guys.”
A trio of players finished in a tie for second place at 1-over par, including a pair of Long Beach State teammates. Bryce Kvick and Tyler Schafer shot identical scores of 74 and 71 to join Kyle Dougherty, who posted 73-72.
Kinnane, a senior at Loyola Marymount University, stumbled on the back nine as his 4-over par 40 dropped him into a tie for sixth with Jack Townsend, Davis McDowell, and Evan Peterson.
Senior, Net and Super Senior Divisions
In the Senior Division, it was Dennis Martin who fired the only under-par round in his flight to run away with a three-stroke victory. Martin, who qualified for the 2021 U.S. Amateur and was the field’s oldest participant, channeled the experience he gained from that accomplishment to push through a rough stretch on his inward nine.
“When I qualified [for the U.S. Amateur], I finished strong,” Martin said. “So I knew today when I started leaking oil that I could turn it around.”
Dennis Martin
“I just kept hitting it past the hole yesterday and you can’t be above the hole,” he said. “So today was an exercise in staying below the hole.”
San Diego Country Club member Don Eklund, the day one leader, finished runner-up to Martin and also secured the Super Senior crown at 6-over par 150.
Matt Brody took the Net Division with rounds of 73 and 77 while Chula Vista local Baley Castro finished four shots back in second place.
Tournament Notes
On the 18th green, the pin was tucked ten feet from the left edge, making it nearly impossible to get close from the deep bunker below. No problem for Elijah Peterson as he blasted out to the fringe and watched his ball trickle in for birdie.
"It was the shot of my life," Peterson said. "And in my first tournament ever."
Carlsbad Kids: Ben Gould and Vincent Fanucchi are from different high schools in Carlsbad, but today they matched feats on the par-4 17th. Gould (Carlsbad H.S., 2020) holed out a 60-degree wedge for eagle, and Fanucchi (Sage Creek H.S., 2021) playing from a bit farther out, did the exact same thing.