Sean-Karl Dobson of Austin, Texas, already enjoys the Bay Area and he’s not even living here yet.
Dobson, a senior at Westlake High in Austin who will attend nearby Stanford in the Fall, held on to win the 2022 AmateurGolf.Com Silicon Valley Amateur by one stroke over Cameron Keith of Alamo at Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto.
“Of course, I was trying to keep the momentum going,” said Dobson, who shot a bogey-free, 10-under-par 62 in the first round. “But whenever you shoot a low number like that, the next day you just don’t have that same magic. You have to work with what you have. And today I really didn’t have my best stuff, so it was a grind.
“It means a ton. I haven’t won in quite a while. To come out and play a new event in a new state with new grasses and win is really, really awesome.”
Dobson, who won seven times in his junior and high school career and played on two Texas 6A Championship teams, carded a score of 62-72—134, 10-under, but did not shake off Keith until he made a tap-in par on the last hole.
Keith, a senior at De La Salle High in Concord who has committed to Dartmouth, finished at 67-68—135, followed by Beau Forest of Redding at 69-68—137, Mitchell Hoey of 68-70—138, and Nate Jetter of Pleasanton at 68-72—140.
“He’s got one of the best short games I’ve ever seen,” Dobson said of Keith. “He’s got to be one of the best chippers and putters in all of junior golf. It’s unbelievable.”
Aidan Tran of Fresno posted a score of 72-69—141 to finish in a big tie for sixth with Matthew Almajano of Fremont (70-71—141), Edan Cui of Atherton (70-71), Ryan Parry of Carmichael (69-72—141), Griffin Long of Davis (68-73—141) and Jacob Goode of San Francisco (68-73—141).
Previous winners of the tournament include Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, Randy Haag, Gregor Main, Blake Hathcoat and Connor BlickFor complete results, visit https://www.amateurgolf.com/images/uploads/00070574.pdf
