Valdes wins Space Coast Amateur in thrilling finish

A high-school player led after the first round of the Space Coast Amateur at Duran Golf Club in Melbourne, Fla., but in the end, a different high school player went home with the title. Brendan Valdes, who came from behind to capture the event in thrilling fashion, winning on the second hole of sudden death playoff against Jeff Mocini.

Valdes shot a final-round 2-under 70 to finish the event at 1-under par, while Mocini earned his way into the playoff after shooting a final-round 71. Both players made par on the first playoff hole, then Valdes made par on the second playoff hole to secure the title after Mocini found trouble and made bogey.

“I drove the ball great today,” said Valdes, a 16-year-old who attends Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando and has committed to play golf at the University of Auburn. “All three of my drives on the difficult 18th, the one in regulation and the two in the playoff hole, were perfect and within 2 yards of each other.”

Defending champion Kyle Decenzo, who plays locally for Florida Tech, finished third after firing a final-round 68, the low score of the day.

Kevin Altenhof followed up his first-round 65 with a second-round 69 to claim the senior gross division. He was eight shots ahead of Tim Monroe, who finished at 2-under for the event. Mike Spragins won the net division title wh

ile Jeff Henning finished second. Mark Larsen won the Men’s A Flight after finishing with a two-day total of 150. William Casteel won the net division and Chris Mcbride finished second in the net. In the B Flight, Dale Martin was victorious in the gross division after finishing at 169, while Nan Ou claimed the net and Jordan Yang finished second.