Mikey Burkland of Alamo scrambled for a closing par to beat his friend A.J. Fitzgerald, 1-up, in the 36-hole final of the 107th San Francisco City Men’s Golf Championship at TPC Harding Park.
Burkland was 4-up through the first 18 holes, but Fitzgerald batted back in the afternoon and a held a 1-up lead with nine holes remaining, but Burkland played the back nine in a bogey-free two-under par to pull out the victory.
“Those were the best nine holes of my life,” said Burkland, who tied for second in the 2022 AmateurGolf.com Christmas Classic. “I knew it was going to be a battle because AJ is a great player, a great competitor and a good friend. We play a lot in these tournaments out here.
“The relief when the ball went in the hole (on his winning putt) was unbelievable. I’m just so pumped.”
In the semifinals, Burkland defeated Ryan Vaughan of San Jose, 6 and 5 in the semifinals, while Fitzgerald, who won the 2022 Monterey City Amateur Championship, downed Guilio Zanichelli of San Francisco, 4 and 2l.
Nicola Kaminski of Los Gatos claimed the Women’s Championship with a 5-and-4 victory over Darla May Dela Torre of Fairfield.
“I am so excited,” said Kaminski, who captured the Nipomo Amateur Championship earlier this year. “It was such a fun tournament, and I had a great time. I am happy it worked out. She is such a great player. She would hit good shots, and it would put pressure on me to get some good shots.
“You have to be straight with your drive, good out of the rough, straight into greens, and good with your short game, so it challenges you all around as a player. It was definitely a challenge all the way around.”
Kaminski lost the first two holes, but turned things around and was 5-up after the opening 18 holes and led the rest of the way.
In the semifinals, Kaminski trailed Michelle Wood of Fremont, 1-down, with two holes remaining, but pulled out the victory with birdie putts of six and nine feet.
Randy Haag of Orinda, an NCGA Hall of Famer and four-time NCGA Player of the Year, successfully defended his 2023 title by beating Ray Kong of San Jose, 1 up.
Christy Atencio of Reno won defeated Lynn Couillard of Irvine, 4 and 3, to win the Women’s Senior Division.
Past champions include Ken Venturi, Harvie Ward, Juli Inkster, Bob Rosburg, George Archer, and Dorothy Delasin.
For complete results, visit: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/10364152397483244624
