Luke Potter of Encinitas became the youngest champion in tournament history by winning the 121st Southern California Golf Association Amateur Championship with a birdie on the third playoff hole to turn back Caden Fioroni of San Diego at Goose Creek Golf Club in Mira Loma.
In the three-hole aggregate playoff on holes 16, 17 and 18, Potter finished at 3-5-3—11, while Fioroni wound up at 4-4-4—12.
On what turned out to be the final hole, Potter sank a 20-foot birdie putt after Fioroni missed from 30 feet.
“Í just trusted my read and the stroke and it went in,” Potter, who won who the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods earlier this year with a record score of 20-under-par 196, said of his winning putt.
“It feels great and it hasn’t sunk in yet, but I’m sure it will on the way home. I came here with an open mind and I’ve played Goose Creek a few times before and it fits my game. Starting five back (in the final round), I knew I had to put a good one out there.
“I made some putts early, felt good and just kept on going.”
The 16-year-old Potter, who trailed Fioroni by five shots entering the final round, posted a score of 67-68-68-62—265, 15-under-par, while Fioroni finished at 69-68-61-67—265, and Steve Sugimoto of San Diego was third at 69-66-70-63—268.
Damon Krause of Los Angeles shot 69-67-71-62—269 to tie for fourth with Charlie Reiter of Palm Desert, who finished a 68-68-67-66—269, Torey Edwards of Long Beach, who wound up at 70-66-66-67—269, and Matt Rafter of Fullerton, who totaled 73-68-61-67—269.
Gavin Reid of Lake Forest was eighth at 66-73-63-68—270, while Zihao Jin of San Diego carded a score of 68-69-68-66—271 to tie for ninth with Blake Brothers of Northridge, who came in at 69-71-64-67—271.
Past champions of the SCGA Amateur include Tiger Woods, Al Geiberger, Patrick Cantlay, John Pate, Charlie Wi, Paul Stankowski, Beau Hossler, Tim Hogarth, Craig Steinberg, Todd Demsey, Barry Jaeckel, John Jacobs, Bobby Gardner, Verne Callison, Jim Ferrie, Charles Seaver, Johnny Dawson, George Von Elm, Paul Hunter, Smiley Quick, Bruce McCormick, Mark Pfeil, Kevin Marsh, Scott McGihon, Tony Sills, Greg Twiggs, Charles Orr, Jeff Hart, Rico Hoey and Sahith Theegala of Chino and Pepperdine last year.
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