Nathan Jetton of Diamond Springs chipped in for a birdie on the first playoff hole to overcome Michael Carrillo of Chualar and Mikey Burkland of Alamo, capturing the 21st Amateur Golf.Com 2022 Christmas Classic Presented by Callaway Golf at Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey.
And it wasn’t as easy as it sounds.
Jetton, who is a caddie at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore., tried to reach the green in two with driver off the deck on the par-5 extra hole, but left his shot short and in the trees before hitting his third shot short of the green.
That left him a delicate chip shot that he hit so perfectly that rolled in like a putt.
“I saw where Michael’s drive was and figured he could get home in two,” Jetton in explaining his second shot that nearly proved to be costly before he saved himself with the brilliant chip shot. “So I decided to hit driver off the deck.”
Carrillo failed to get up-and-down for birdie from pin high in two, and when Burkland’s birdie putt rolled past the hole, Jetton was the winner.
Jetton, who also won the Chico City Championship earlier this year, birdied the last two holes of regulation to post a score of 71-71—142, two-under-par, and Burkland also closed with two birdies to shoot 69-73—142, while Carrillo held a one-stroke lead before a bogey at No. 18 left him at 71-71—142.
Papon Sawatyanon of Berkeley put up a score of 76-67—143 to tie for fourth with Cameron Keith of Alamo, who finished at 71-72—143, while 2016 AGC Christmas champion Ashkaan Hakim of San Ramon was sixth at 73-72—145.
Kyle Gentry of Palo Alto totaled 73-73—146 to tie for seventh with Mason Benbrook of Carmichael, who wound up at 70-76—146, while Daren Johnson of Covina was ninth at 71-76—147.
Ben Soicher of Mill Valley carded a score of 78-70—148 to tie for 10th with Neil Summers of Palo Alto, who finished at 72-76—148, and Austin Murphy of San Francisco, who came in at 72-78—148.
Casey Boyns of Monterey, who claimed the Championship Division title in 2007, posted a score of 75-75—150 to win the Senior Division by one stroke over Tony Ralph of Sunnyvale, who totaled 76-75—151, Andrew Gabelman of Barrington, Ill., who wound up at 75-76—151, and Steve Schroeder of Monterey, who finished at 72-79—151, while Daniel O’Connor of San Francisco was fifth at 76-77—153.
For complete results, visit https://2022christmasclassic.golfgenius.com/pages/9031433339541683667
