Greyson Leach (Southern California Golf Association Photo)
The SCGA Amateur Championship has had 124 iterations and a star studded list of past champions that includes Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Sahith Theegala and Beau Hossler. But it's never seen a winner like
Greyson Leach, who set the all-time scoring at 21-under en route to winning by six strokes at Rolling Hills CC. The previous record was held by Rico Hoey at -19 under in 2016 at Barona Creek GC.
Leach, who grew up playing at Rolling Hills CC and is a past club champion, did the impossible and made golf look easy over the span of four days at a track he knows very well. Despite being extremely familiar with the property, he still had to execute which, save for three bogeys in his final, he did nearly flawlessly.
Coming into Thursday's final round, Leach held a four-shot lead over his nearest trailer, Krando Nishiba (who shot Rolling Hill CC's course record with a stunning nine-under 63 in round one). By the sixth hole, his already comfortable margin was extended to seven after he carded three early birdies. The lead could have been bigger, but Leach burned the edge with a six-foot eagle putt on the par-five third hole that just missed going in (set up by a 235-yard 4-iron on his second shot).
Where some players might have felt the pressure of sleeping on an overnight lead, teeing-off late, and being on the verge of capturing an illustrious championship, Leach seemed born for the moment. In his final round, the University of Oregon standout hit 14 of 15 fairways, 16 of 18 greens, and only needed 34 putts to get around a golf course that famously features undulated, multitiered, lightning-fast putting surfaces.
“My putting was the best part of my game this week,” Leach said after his final round. “In order to score here at Rolling Hills CC, you need to roll it well. This is best I’ve ever putted in a tournament.”
Over 72 holes, Leach carded 26 birdies and two eagles on his way to a dominating victory that was never in question on Thursday. With a four-round cumulative total of 267, he beat second place by six shots.
“I didn’t check the leaderboard until the 16th hole. The entire time I was just worried about myself and staying in my game.”
Leach received a hero’s welcome at the trophy presentation where members who watched him grow up at the club were on hand to see him make history at his old home course.
“I’m happy to see everyone and I’m glad my family is here to celebrate with me. I can’t wait to get in there and share this with all of them.”
ABOUT THE
SCGA Amateur
This is the longest standing championship
conducted
by the SCGA. Started in 1900, this event
crowns the
best amateur player of the Association. Since
the
inaugural event, the SCGA Amateur has
enjoyed an
illustrious history of great champions, including
Tiger
Woods and Al Geiberger to more recent stars
including Beau Hossler and Patrick Cantlay. The
event is open to members 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
72 holes of stroke play with the top 42 and ties
advancing after the first 36 holes.
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