Beau Forest (AmateurGolf.com photo)
Former University of the Pacific golfer
Beau Forest leads a tight group of par-or-better players after round one of the Amateurgolf.com Winter Invitational, presented by Callaway Golf.
Forest, who last played for the Tigers in the 2019-20 season as a redshirt junior, eagled the par-5 15th at Corica Park’s South Course in Alameda, Calif. to jump to four-under, where he would remain to post 68. He was the third group to finish on Saturday and will head to Sunday primed for a shootout as 17 players rest at or below par, including a four-way tie for second place just one shot back.
Leonardo Vieira, who medalled at the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying at Stanford Golf Course, joined Forest in eagling the 15th to help close out his opening-round on an upbeat note. Vieira, a native of Castro Valley who calls Corica Park his home course, finished solo second at last year’s Winter Invitational behind Pepperdine star Josh McCarthy, who has since turned pro.
Brendon Choe of Orinda,
Marc Engellenner of Rocklin, and newly-appointed Pacific men’s golf assistant coach
Andy Moren round out the group of 69s, with Moren’s bogey-free day featuring an eagle at the drivable par-4 eighth.
Engellenner will be looking to cap off an impressive 2021 campaign -- which included a four-shot win at the Sacramento City Championship (thanks to a final round 62) and a November win at the Dixie Mid-Master in Florida.
Both Engellenner and Moren share the Mid-Amateur lead by two over
Andrew McDonald and
Jerry Ledzinski. Playing in the second to last group with barely enough light to finish and the temperature dropping into the low 40's, Ledzinski hit the pin with his second shot with a 9-iron from 145 yards out to set up a a tap-in birdie on the finishing hole.
In the Senior Division, only
Tony Ralph of Sunnyvale was able to post a red number in the first round. His three consecutive back-nine birdies gives him a one-shot lead over Gomer Pearcy. Pearcy, of Aptos, had the lead for most of the day but succumbed to a three-over 39 on the backside despite eagling the 15th.
Tied for third at 74 are Craig Miyamoto of Sacramento, as well as 2021 Christmas Classic Senior winner Michael Staskus. For Staskus, his round gives him the Super Senior lead by one over Jim Williams.
The Net flight is led by Randall Schwartz at 72, followed closely by Tom Natividad at 73.
by Conner Penfold, special to AmateurGolf.com
ABOUT THE
AGC Winter Invitational
>> 2024 TOUR PORTAL
The Winter Invitational is now open to all
players who satisfy the handicap
requirements.
Join us at the completely renovated Corica Park
South Course -- it's the home course of
AmateurGolf.com!
This is a gross competition with Championship and
Senior divisions. There will be no Net
division.
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.
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.
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