Brandon Gama of Santa Barbara was not as his best in the final round of the 51st Southern California Public Links Championship, but it didn’t matter.
Gama, who took a seven-stroke lead into the final round, closed with a 1-over-par 73 and still won the title by five shots over Tongun Lako Losarah of Upland at River Ridge Golf Course in Oxnard.
“It feels good to win close to home,” said Gama, who collected 12 birdies in the first two rounds en route to this first SCGA victory. “My game felt really easy the first two days but I was definitely nervous going into the final round. I really wanted to win and having a big lead afforded me the chance to just hang on.
“I grew up playing public golf courses so it’s awesome to win an event designed to showcase public talent. I hadn’t won in a few years so this definitely boosts my confidence.”
Gama, who won the 2012 Coronado City Championship and 2008 Santa Barbara City Championship, posted a score of 64-69-73—206, 10-under, while Losarah finished at 70-70-71—211, and Tim Snyder of Thousand Oaks was third at 73-68-72—213.
John Skelton of Encinitas shot 72-69-73—214 to tie for fourth with Lingjun Kong of Arcadia, who finished at 70-72-72—214, while Tim Hogarth of Northridge, who won the tournament in 1998, 1999 and 2011, totaled 73-72-70—215 to tie for sixth with Adam Navigato of Solana Beach, who wound up at 68-72-75—215.
Dan Sullivan of Pasadena was eighth at 73-72-71—216, while Forbes Collins III shot 73-74-70—217 to tie for ninth with Sean Cavanaugh of Encino, who came in at 71-75-71—217.
For complete results, visit https://scga-2018scgapubliclinkschampionship.golfgenius.com/pages/1279124
