Kento Yamawaki of Encinitas rolled to a four-stroke victory over defending Ben Soicher of Mill Valley and Elliott Bunyaviroch of San Francisco in the AmateurGolf.com San Diego Amateur Championship at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad.
Yamawaki, who played at La Costa Canyon High and Cal, warmed up for his bid to qualify for the PGA Tour Canada by posting a score of 69-71—140, 4-under-par, while Soicher finished at 75-69—144 and Bunyaviroch wound up at 74-70—144 by making three birdies on the last four holes.
Nursing a one-stroke lead coming down the stretch, Yamawaki made birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 before closing with a solid par to wrap up the victory.
Hunter Po of San Diego, a high school senior who has committed to Columbia, was fourth at 70-76—146, followed by Fidel Rodriguez of Riverside at 72-75—147, Evan Liu of Rancho Santa Fe at 73-76-149, and Song Bai of Upland at 75-75—150.
Denis Watson of Laguna Beach shot 75-76—151 to tie for eighth with Ryan Hartanto of San Diego, who totaled 73-78—151, and Steen Zeman of Oxnard, who came in at 75-76—151.
Jim Plotkin of Carlsbad claimed the Senior Division title with a par on the third playoff hole to beat Brian Smyth of North Tustin, who was playing in his first event since turning 50 but hit his tee shot into a hazard on that third extra hole and made a bogey.
Plotkin carded a score of 71-73—144, while Smith finished at 75-69—144.
Kory Frost of Trabuco Canyon was third at 73-72—145, followed by Geoff Park of Oceanside at 74-73—147, and Ken Cruz of Long Beach at 75-75—150.
Bruce Loman of Newport Coast captured the Super Senior title with a score of 83-73—156, shooting his age in the second round, to win by three strokes over Patrick Rohan of San Diego, who wound up at 85-74—159, and Ray Kong of San Jose, who finished at 80-79—159.
Ron Fernandez of Thousand Oaks was fourth at 80-82—162, followed by Robert Stone of Mesa, Ariz., at 84-83—167, and Mark Anderson of Newport Beach at 89-90—189.
Kristen Lee of Pleasanton took the Women’s Division title with a score of 80-81—161, followed by Shelly Haywood of Huntington Beach at 80-84—164, Keira Wang of Palos Verdes Estates at 90-81—171, Sohini Pilley of San Jose at 89-85—174, and Presley Pikron of Gilbert, Ariz., at 90-85—175.
For complete results, visit https://www.amateurgolf.com/images/uploads/00075936.pdf
