Joey Vrzich became the second consecutive player from Pepperdine to win the California Amateur Championship.
Vrzich, from nearby El Cajon, defeated Charlie Reiter of Palm Desert, 3 and 2, on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Club in La Jolla to capture the 109th edition of the state amateur.
“I haven’t been known as the best putter,” said Vrzich, who captured the Nick Watney Collegiate and the Badger Invitational for Pepperdine in 2018. “The last three months (since the college season ended because of the Coronavirus pandemic) I’ve grinded really hard on my short game and putter.
“We were making putts left and right, also lipping out a lot. Thirteen birdies could have been 16, easily.”
William Mouw of Pepperdine, which was No. 1 in the national college rankings when fears over the Coronavirus pandemic ended the 2019-20 college season, claimed the title last year.
Vrzich, who will be a junior for the Waves, took a 1-up lead after the morning 18 holes in the final and stretched the lead to 4-up by winning the 19th hole with a par, the 21st with a birdie and the 22nd with another par.
However Reiter, who recently transferred from USC to the University of San Diego, sliced the lead in half by winning the 23rd hole with a par and the 25th with a birdie.
But Vrzich never let the match get any closer and went dormie with a birdie on the 34th hole before claiming the title one hole later when both players made par.
In the semifinals, Reiter defeated Chase Sienkiewicz of Carmichael, 2 and 1, while Vrzich downed Caleb Shetler of Saratoga, 4 and 3.
Vrzich earned an exemption into U.S. Amateur Championship at the end of the month at Bandon Dunes.
Previous winners of the Cal Amateur include Ken Venturi, Gene Littler, Johnny Miller, John Cook, Mark O’Meara, Bobby Clampett, Duffy Waldorf, Gary Vanier, Charlie Wi, Tim Hogarth, Spencer Levin, Mark Johnson, Todd Demsey, Casey Boyns, Sam Randolph Jr., Forrest Fezler, Bob E. Smith, Vern Callison, Dick Lotz, Eli Bariteau, Tal Smith, Johnny Dawson, Charles Seaver, Ernie Pieper Jr., George Von Elm and Jack F. Neville.
The California Amateur Championship originated in 1912 and was held at Pebble Beach Golf Links from 1919 until 2006.
For complete results, visit https://calam-109thcaliforniaamateurchampionship.golfgenius.com/pages/5888135611050644047
