Fourth-seeded Joshua Carter of Birch Hills Golf Club in Brea captured the Southern California Golf Association One-Day Match Play Series Championship with a 1-up victory over sixth-seeded Mark Pizano of San Bernardino Southern California Magazine at Goose Creek Golf Club in Mira Loma.
The final match was all square through 11 holes after neither player held a lead of more than 1-up, before Pizano took charge and a 2-up lead by winning three consecutive holes through No. 14.
However, Carter then won the next three holes and after they halved the final hole, he was the winner.
“It means a lot, but I’m super tired,” Carter said, who won a day after the final was delayed by rain. “It was really cold on Monday, and I’m glad we got the break on Tuesday. “I promised my daughter I would take her to Disneyland if I won and I am exhausted, but I’m still going to go.
“Putts weren’t going as far (after the rain). It was really muddy. A lot of chips were digging into the ground and wouldn’t go far, so we made those adjustments. We played the slice all day and it stuck with us. We knew where the shots were going to go. (My caddie) told me to trust the shots and make the putts.”
In the semifinals, Carter turned back the 2019 champion Michael Keane of Bear Creek Golf Club Murrieta, 2 up, and Pizano defeated Al Varga of Simi Hills Golf Course in Simi Valley by 2 and 1.
To reach the final, Carter also defeated Tim Crass of Los Angeles Fire Department Golf Club, 6 and 5, Rob Winkle of Cimarron Golf Club in Cathedral City, 3 and 2, Jerome Golden of Laguna Woods Golf Club, 3 and 2.
Pizano beat Jeff Jordan of British and Dominican Golf Club, 4 and 3, defeated Jonny Lee of Mickey Mouse Golf League in Glendale, also by 4 and 3, and Al Varga of Simi Hills Golf Course, 2 and 1 to reach the final.
The SCGA One-Day Series Match Play Championship is the culminating event of the One-Day Series, which will also help determine the One-Day Series Player of the Year.
For complete results, visit https://scga-2021scgaonedayseriesmatchplaychampi.golfgenius.com/pages/2757948
