Winter Invitational: Winners Share Keys to Victory at San Juan Oaks

HOLLISTER, Calif. — The AmateurGolf.com Winter Invitational presented by Callaway once again brought elite amateur talent to San Juan Oaks Golf Club, where firm, fast greens and a championship-caliber layout set the stage for standout performances across all divisions. What separated this year’s event, however, was not just the scoring — but the stories behind those scores. From clutch hole-outs to composed Sunday finishes, each division champion delivered a unique path to the top, and the winners were eager to share how they got it done.

Championship Division: Theo Anderson’s short game steals the weekend

Entering the final round one shot off the lead, Theo Anderson leaned on elite wedge play and clutch scrambling to post a closing 69, finishing the tournament at 4-under (71–69) to secure the Championship Division title. Theo is currently a freshman playing for the University of San Francisco Men's golf team.

His round featured an eagle hole-out on the par-4 12th, numerous momentum-saving par conversions, and a birdie on 18 to seal the win.

“The short game was great. Really just tried to take it shot by shot, then I drove the ball really well which set me up for the rest of the tournament.”

For Anderson, the Winter Invitational fit perfectly into his offseason preparation for spring collegiate golf.

“This course definitely represents a lot of the courses we play in college golf. Firm greens, fast greens too. So it was great to kind of just get reps in, and how it’s going to be in the spring.”

His closing-round steadiness reflected exactly the performance he hoped would surface this week.

“Got up and down for par a lot. I just wedged it great, ton of good birdie opportunities. Obviously the hole-out on hole twelve helped a lot, but it was very steady.”

Asked why he circled the Winter Invitational on his schedule, Anderson summed it up simply:

“It’s exactly what I want in trying to prepare for our college semester in the spring. This is a great field obviously and this is a great course to do it at, and I just love competing.”

Mid-Amateur Division: Chris Marin stays hot and takes the title

Chris Marin lit up San Juan Oaks on Saturday, carding seven birdies, including a blistering 31 on the back nine, to grab the early lead in the Mid-Amateur Division. His fast start proved decisive as he rode that momentum through the final round to claim the championship.

“It's kind of the offseason for golf, so it keeps you fresh. I pretty much gave up on the year, maybe a month ago, then signed up for this one pretty late. It just keeps the tournament juices flowing and the weather is perfect so it didn’t even feel like winter golf.”

Marin praised the demanding setup:

“It suits this championship, it’s tournament conditions and it’ll test you.”

As for his weekend formula?

“Just kind of rode a hot streak and very happy with how it turned out.”

Marin also earned Low Scorer honors for the Men’s Mid-Amateur (25–49) category.

Women’s Division: Cathy Zhang pulls away for a two-round win

Cathy Zhang (San Ramon, CA) backed up her opening-round 72 with a steady 74 on Sunday to secure the Women’s Division title at +2 (146).

Her consistent ball striking separated her from the field as she closed out a comfortable margin of victory.

Senior Championship Division: Craig Miyamoto holds off a tight field

After opening with a superb 69, Craig Miyamoto (Sacramento, CA) protected his lead through Sunday’s more challenging winds and firmer greens, finishing at +1 (145) after a closing 76.

The leaderboard stayed tight throughout the afternoon, but Miyamoto’s first-round cushion — and mistake-free early play — ultimately sealed the championship.

Super Senior Division: Jim Williams finishes strong to claim the title

Jim Williams (Orinda, CA) captured the Super Senior championship at +5 (149), highlighted by a composed 72 in the final round — one of the steadiest Sunday scores across any division.

His disciplined approach and clean back nine made the difference.

Full Final Leaderboard