Jason Anthony simply chalked up another victory.
The 38-year-old Anthony eagled the final hole of regulation and then added a birdie on the first playoff hole to beat Brett Viboch of Sacramento and John McCord of Richmond to repeat as champion in the 19th Northern California Golf Association Valley Amateur Championship at Whitehawk Ranch Golf Club in Clio.
Anthony, who birdied the final hole of regulation to claim the title last year and also won the tournament in 2017, posted a score of 72-67—139, 3-under-par, while Viboch finished at 71-68—139 and McCord totaled 70-69—139.
After making a 25-foot eagle putt to get into the playoff, Anthony sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole and Viboch lipped out an eight-footer that would have extended the playoff.
“Any win is satisfying, especially knowing you only have so many chances,” said Anthony, who has six NCGA titles top tie for seventh on the all-time list. “NCGA wins are even more satisfying due to the strength of the fields and the venues. Ultimately, though, at the end of the day it’s about the camaraderie.
“I was really struggling earlier in the year for about three months. I couldn’t break par and was spinning my wheels. Utlimately, when I get out on the course and the tourney is on the line, I find a way to get it done. That’s why I love competing.”
Anthony, who played at Fresno State, also has won the 2019 NCGA Mid-Amateur, the 2020 Antioch City Championship, the 2019 Alameda Commuters, the 2018 San Francisco City Amateur and the 2014 Fresno City Championship.
Tanner Makimoto of Sacramento shot 72-69—141 to tie for fourth with Michael Slesinski of Fremont, who wound up at 71-70—141, while Matt Conn of San Francisco was sixth at 69-73—142, followed by Garrett Wagner of Discovery Bay at 76-67—143.
Daniel Connolly of San Francisco totaled 74-71—145 to tie for eighth with Nick Moore of Monterey, the 2020 Northern California Amateur champion who won this tournament in 2013, 2015 and 2016, and wound up at 72-73—145, while Mark Stephens of Redding shot 75-71—146 to tie for 10th with Travis Peterson of Santa Rosa, who came in at 70-76—146.
Jerry Ledzinski of Carmel, the 2018 NCGA Valley Amateur champion, tied for 12th at 74-73—147, while Jason Melvin of Carmel, the 2019 winner tied for 27th at 79-74—153.
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