Jeff Wilson captures second SCGA Mid-Amateur title
2015 SCGA Mid-Amateur champion
Jeff Wilson (AmateurGolf.com photo)
SANTA ANA, Calif. — Jeff Wilson dropped in a birdie putt on Santa Ana Country Club's par-five 18th hole to win the 2015 SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship — the second time he's won the event in his impressive and extensive career.
Wilson, once honored as low-amateur at the 2000 U.S. Open, as well as medalist at the 2010 U.S. Amateur, shot 71 on Tuesday to edge Joe Doody of Huntington Beach. Doody closed with 69, including three birdies in his final four holes, to briefly own the clubhouse lead while Wilson was still out on the course.
An eagle on the par-five 10th gave Wilson his biggest lead of the day. With eight to go, Wilson led by four over second-round leader Michael Feuerstein of San Diego, who shot 78 on Tuesday to finish in a tie for fourth. Wilson missed short putts on the two closing par-threes — 14 and 17 — to drop back to even par before cashing in with a winning birdie on 18.
Wilson shot rounds of 73 and 71 on Monday, entering the final round trailing Feuerstein, a former UC-Santa Barbara golfer, by three.
The 51-year-old Wilson won his first SCGA Mid-Amateur back in 2008 at Toscana Country Club, where he claimed another one-stroke victory, this time over Kevin Marsh.
The Fairfield, Calif. resident has a notable golf resume since graduating from the University of the Pacific in the 1980s. To go along with standout showings as the 2000 U.S. Open and 2010 U.S. Amateur, Wilson has been medalist at the U.S. Mid-Amateur three times. His 62 at The Home Course during the 2010 U.S. Amateur still stands as the second lowest stroke play round in the tournament's history.
Recent Rancho Santa Margarita Amateur winner Jeff Coburn used a final-round 68 to grab third place while Pasadena's Dan Sullivan tied for fourth with Feuerstein with a closing 70.
Defending champion Ramie Sprinkling tied for ninth, shooting 76-72-74 in his attempt to repeat.
The top-five all earned exemptions into this year's SCGA Amateur Championship, being held July 10-12 at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale.
ABOUT THE
SCGA Mid-Amateur
The SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship is open to
members ages 25 and older with a Handicap Index
of 5.4 and below. Competitors undergo 18 holes of
qualifying play in order to reach the final field of 84
players. In the Championship, players compete over
54 holes of stroke play with the top 42 players and
ties advancing after 36 holes to the final round.
View Complete Tournament Information