LOGIN  |  JOIN  |  INFO  |  BENEFITS
AGC Christmas Classic: Joshua Lim fires 68 for round one lead
05 Dec 2020
by Pete Wlodkowski of AmateurGolf.com

see also: View results for AGC Christmas Classic, Del Monte Golf Course

SHARE:   
First round leader Joshua Lim (AmateurGolf.com photo)
First round leader Joshua Lim (AmateurGolf.com photo)

On a day when quick greens and challenging pin positions left many players frustrated with three and four putts, Joshua Lim of San Francisco managed to make eight birdies at Del Monte, taking the early lead at the AmateurGolf.com Christmas Classic.

But he wasn't "the boss of the moss" all day. His score could have been lower had it not been for a missed five footer for par on No. 3 (his 12th hole) that turned into a three putt double bogey.

After birdieing his first two holes of the day and turning in 4-under 32, Lim gave back two strokes there, and another with a bogey on No. 4. But he bounced back with a birdie at the short par-4 5th hole, then birdied Nos. 8 and 9 to get back to 4-under -- good for a three shot lead over four players heading into tomorrow's final round.

Trailing Lim are George McNeely of Carmel (and University of North Carolina); Ben Soicher of Mill Valley (despite taking a month off from golf); Jeremy Yun of Menlo Park, and Curtis Da Silva of Carmel (maybe the youngest player in the tournament, at 15).

In the Mid-Am subdivision, Patrick Cairns and Weston Payne are tied for the lead at 1-over 73.

Lim was the only player to break 70 in the championship division. Del Monte plays just a bit longer than 6500 yards, but it's tight in places, and the greens are small and can be very penal after the wrong miss.

SENIOR DIVISION

Todd Barsotti of Fresno played a steady round with one birdie against three bogeys, and all the rest pars for the solo lead in the senior division, at 73. With over 30 seniors in the field (including tournament founder Casey Boyns, who posted 78) it's one of our best senior tournaments of the year. And right behind Barsotti are a slew of players that can give chase, including Jeff Britton (Carmel) and Daniel O'Connor (San Francisco), who both posted 2-over 74.

PAR OF THE DAY

Michael Wishart (one of six Super Seniors in the field) was sure his drive was heading out of bounds left on No. 7. Then it kicked off the border wall, safely in bounds but leaving him 210 yards from the hole. From there he pushed his second shot right of the bunker with a tree in right in the way. The only option was to bounce it over the bunker and hope for the best. Wishart pulled off the impossible, hitting just the right spot and hopping over the trap, landing in the rough on the other side, and trickling down to three feet for an easy par.

“That’s how you shoot 81,” quipped Wishart after the round.

NET DIVISION

Scott Henrikson of Laguna Niguel posted a net 73 to take the first round lead by three over "The Turlock Trio" of Marc Sanders, Charles Balisha, and Tom Silva. Playing off an 8 handicap, Henrikson posted a steady 81 that included a gross birdie on the tricky 13th.

If the guys from Turlock don't gang up on him in the final group, he's going to be tough to beat.

Results: AGC Christmas Classic
1CAJoshua LimSan Francisco, CA10068-69=137
2CAWeston PayneMenlo Park, CA6573-64=137
T3CAJerry LedzinskiCarmel, CA3076-67=143
T3CAAnton OuyangSan Jose, CA3072-71=143
5CAKyle GentryMountain View, CA3074-70=144

View full results for AGC Christmas Classic

ABOUT THE AGC Christmas Classic

>> 2023 TOUR PORTAL | PHOTO GALLERY

The Christmas Classic was founded by 2-time California State Amateur Champion Casey Boyns over 20 years ago and it always attracts a great field. This is our most popular event, and year in and year out it sells out. Field limited to 104 players; Championship, Senior, and Net divisions.

Your entry fee includes two rounds of golf (cart at players expense), $4500 in Callaway Golf certificate prizes, $20 lunch certificate, and a great weekend at one of the Monterey Peninsula's wonderful classic courses, "Old" Del Monte.

DIVISIONS

CHAMPIONSHIP
For players aged 16 and over who have a USGA or equivalent index of less than 5.5

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
For players age 50 and over (as of the tournament date) with a handicap index of less than 8.0. Note: Must be 55 and over for NCGA Senior Points.

NET
For players 16 and over with handicap between 5.5 and 18.0.

MID-AM (subdivision of Championship)
For players age 25-49. Compete alongside the younger players in the Championship Division, (same tees, same prize opportunities) and if there are at least six Mid-Ams, a separate prize and trophy will be awarded.

SUPER SENIORS (subdivision of Senior)
For players age 65+. Compete alongside the younger senior players in the Senior Division, (same tees, same prize opportunities) and if there are at least six players 65 or over, a separate prize and trophy will be awarded for low super senior.

WOMEN (subdivision of Championship)
Will play in the Championship Division but from a shorter tee; if there are at least six women in the field, a separate prize and trophy will be awarded. Net players will play in the Net Division but from a shorter tee.

View Complete Tournament Information

Latest in 

Amateurgolf.com, Inc.
6965 El Camino Real 105-631
Carlsbad, CA 92009

Instagram X Facebook YouTube