Evan Peterson of Clovis downed defending champion Jason Anthony of Fairfield, 5 and 3, to win the scheduled 36-hole final in the 103rd San Francisco City Championship at TPC Harding Park tpc.com/hardingpark.
Peterson, a junior at St. Mary’s College in Moraga built a 5-up lead after the 23rd hole before adding a 70-foot birdie putt at No. 11 in the afternoon, and held on, thanks in part to a chip-in par on the 31st hole before finishing things off when Anthony conceded two holes later.
“He’s a great guy, awesome competitor,” Peterson said of Anthony, whom he knows well because both are members at Green Valley Country Club in Fairfield. “I have a year left to play next year (at St. Mary’s). This will hopefully be the jumping point I need to start playing well.
“I’m a good stroke-play player but match play I’ve always excelled in because I see my opponent and I can rise to the occasion better. It’s a mindset that I need to adapt more into my stroke-play game. … When it’s match play and I know and see the one guy I’m playing with? You have to beat me so beat me–otherwise I’m going to bury you.”
In the semifinals, Peterson routed Tony Verna of San Francisco, 5 and 4, while Anthony got past Bobby Bucey of Concord, 4 and 3.
Former champions of the San Francisco City include E. Harvie Ward, George Archer, Bob E. Smith, Verne Callison, Gary Vanier, Randy Haag, Martin Trainer, Shintaro Ban, Cody Blick, Brandon Hagy and Justin Suh.
In the Women’s Division, which was first played in 1958, 17-year-old Danielle Suh of San Ramon needed 38 holes to finish off Aman Sangha of San Mateo.
“It’s super cool,” said Suh, who has committed to San Jose State. “This is the first amateur event I’ve won, hopefully the first of many.”
Suh helped Dougherty Valley High finish second in the CIF Girls’ State Championships in November.
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