GCAA Am Series: Chopra, Laskin take titles at home courses

Home is where the win is. That’s how the saying goes, right? University of Illinois senior Varun Chopra and University of Arizona senior David Laskin were able to retain their overnight leads to snag wins at their home courses as part of the GCAA Amateur Series. In Illinois, Chopra built upon his three-stroke lead that he achieved following 36-holes of play on Saturday. Starting his scoring with back to back birdies on Nos. 3 and 4, Chopra made the turn at two under on the day and 10 under for the championship. Two groups ahead of Chopra was his Fighting Illini teammate, Giovanni Tadiotto. Tadiotto was attempting to make a back-nine surge following a 1-under 35 on the front. Carding a quintet of birdies on the final nine holes, including a trio on hole Nos. 13-15, Tadiotto ran out of holes as he finished four shots back of Chopra with a 9-under 207 total. While Tadiotto made his run, Chopra dropped in three birdies of his own. Following his final birdie on No. 18, Chopra secure the championship with a 13-under 203 total (67-69-67) at his home course. Out west, David Laskin was looking to do the same thing Chopra did just an hour or so prior. Holding a four shot lead as he walked to the first tee on Sunday, Laskin would only see that lead swell as the day went on. Laskin’s biggest challengers who were just four off to begin the day, all struggled to get anything going as the trio finished a total four over par on Sunday. While they fell to the wayside, Laskin found what others could not–birdies. Making the turn at one under, Laskin turned on the afterburners with a back side 34 to finish the tournament at 12 under par, clearing the field by eight shots. Laskin’s Wildcat teammate Trevor Werblyo and San Jose State’s Parker Sisk took a split of second place at 4-under 212. Laskin’s final round 69 was one of just nine rounds on Sunday to break par.