Connor Williams of Escondido finally found the winner’s circle against the big boys.
Williams, a senior at San Pasqual High in Escondido who has committed to Arizona State, finished with three solid pars to claim a one-stroke victory over Alexander Gibalevich of Studio City in the sixth Agave Amateur at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Indio.
“This win means a lot, as it is my first amateur win and now I know that I can compete with collegiate and older players,” said Williams, who won numerous junior titles and was 2022 CIF San Diego Section Player of the Year. “It gives me the confidence I can compete on the amateur level and still win after facing adversity.
“I had a really good stretch of golf in my last 16 holes the second round, shooting 29 on the back after I was three-over after two holes. I stayed patient and took my opportunities when they came to me this week.”
Williams posted a score of 69-66-70—205, eight-under-par, while Gibalevich, who plays at the University of Denver, held the lead until making two late bogeys and wound up at 70-65-71—206.
Shane Muldowney of Carlsbad and UC Davis shot 73-68-66—207 and tied for third with Jack Barber of La Jolla, who finished at 67-71-69—207, Riley Bell of Yuba City, who totaled 67-72-68—207, and Mason Benbrook of Carmichael, who wound up at 71-67-69—207.
Kento Yamawaki of Encinitas, coming off a victory in the Amateur Golf.Com San Diego Amateur, carded a score of 74-67-68—209 to tie for seventh with Colin Huang of Newport Beach, who finished at 68-72-69—209, while Jaden Cantafio of Tustin shot 67-71-72—210 to tie for ninth with Johnny Williams of Waterloo, Neb., who wound up at 67-74-69—210, and Colt Sherrell of Maple Valley, Wash., who came in a 72-67-71—210.
The Agave Amateur is the eighth tournament in the 2022-23 Troon Saguaro Amateur Series, and the next event will be the inaugural Coachella Amateur, which starts next Wednesday on the North Course at the Golf Club at Terra Lago in Indio.
For complete results, visit https://2022agaveamateur.golfgenius.com/pages/8619704944506734796
