Scotland Schmidt of San Diego had not won for a while before breaking through last year, and now he’s done it again.
Schmidt rallied despite heavy rain and wind with an eagle and a birdie down the stretch to defeat Liam Koeneke of Del Mar by two strokes and win the AmateurGolf.com San Diego Amateur at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista.
It was the second straight year that a mid-amateur claimed the title, as Marc Engellenner of Rocklin won in 2022.
Schmidt, who also captured the 2022 Southern California Golf Association Public Links Championship, posted a score of 68-68—136, 8-under-par, while Koeneke totaled 66-72—138 and Zack Missigman of Goodyear, Ariz., and St. Mary’s College in Moraga was third at 68-73—141.
Koeneke, who plays at San Diego State, held a two-stroke lead after the first round, but Schmidt took the lead by playing the front nine in a bogey-free 2-under 34, before making a chip-in eagle at No. 16 to go with two birdies on the back nine and taking his only bogey on the last hole.
Matthew Moss of San Diego shot 70-72—142 to tie for fourth with Matthew Manganello of Las Vegas, who finished at 71-71—152, while Go Nakatsukasa totaled 73-70—143 to tie for sixth with Jackson Moss of San Diego, who wound up at 69-74—143, and Jonathan Curran of Scottsdale, Ariz., who came in a 73-70—143.
Ian Shahwan of Yorba Linda was ninth at 70-74—144, while Jaden Hunter of Rancho Santa Fe shot 73-72—145 to tie for 10th with Daniel Nunez of Los Angeles, who finished at 74-71—145, and Ben Mouser of Fresno, who wound up at 73-72—145.
Jim Ploktin of Carlsbad, who won the Northern California Golf Association Senior Championship in September and the AGC San Diego Senior Championship in December, captured the Senior Division title by defeating Steve McPherson of Hemet with a par on the first playoff hole.
Plotkin carded a score of 70-79—149, 5-over, despite closing with three straight bogeys, while McPherson finished at 75-74—149, pulling into a tie thanks to a birdie on the 17th hole.
Rick Taniguchi of Lake Forest posted a score of 76-74—150 to tie for third with Brian Smyth of North Tustin, who finished at 73-77—140, while David Uihara of Brea wound up fifth at 74-77—151.
Davin Ujihara of Brea took home the Super Senior Division title by seven strokes with a score of 77-84—151, seven-over, while Dennis McKinley of Castle Rock, Colo., was second at 78-80—158, followed by Jim Saivar of San Diego at 79-85—164 and Don Eklund of San Diego at 81-84—165.For complete results, visit https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/9141006630089948310
