Aaron Whalen of Ephrata, Wash., made an eight-foot par putt on the third playoff hole to beat Sam Choi of Anaheim in the inaugural Agave Amateur at Shadow Hills Golf Club in Indio.
Whalen sank a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation to finish at 65-72-66—203, 10-under-par, and got into the playoff when Choi, who has committed to the University of New Mexico, missed an eight-foot par putt to wind up at 66-67-70—203.
“I loved the course and it was great to be in the sunshine with good and fast greens”, said Whalen, who played at Washington State. “I wasn’t sure where I stood (on 18), but I knew I needed to make the putt.”
Christopher Tuulik of San Diego was third at 71-68-68—207, followed by Raymond Navis of Palm Desert at 67-72-71—210, Hunter Epson of Long Beach at 73-70-68—211 and Matt McClung of Fulshear, Texas, at 66-76-70—212.
Cody Hall of Wildomar shot 72-75-67—214 to tie for seventh with Josh McCollum of Upland, who totaled 70-71-73—214, while Bobby Kim of La Habra finished ninth at 70-71-73—214, and Morgan Deenan of Orange wound up at 72-72-72—216 to tie for 10th with John Souza of Glendale, Ariz., who came in at 76-71-69—216.
The Agave Amateur was the third event in the Troon Saguaro Amateur Series that culminates with the Saguaro Amateur early in the New Year.
For complete results, visit http://www.amateurgolf.com/amateur-golf-tournaments/7877/Agave-Amateur
