Baron Nguyen Dominates at Southern California Match Play Championship
By the time Baron Nguyen tapped in on the 15th green of Riverside’s Victoria Club, the gallery knew they had seen something special. The 17-year-old from Southern California, already bound for UCLA, had just finished a three-day run of golf so relentless that his name might as well be etched into the course’s memory.
Over five matches in the Southern California Match Play Championship, Nguyen never seemed to let up. He played 80 holes at an eye-popping 29-under par, and more than just the numbers told the story. It was the rhythm — the confident stride off the tee, the way his putter seemed magnetized to the cup, and the killer instinct to close out matches before opponents could find a second wind.
A Lightning Start, Every Time
Some players take a few holes to settle into match play. Not Nguyen. He birdied the first hole in all five matches, immediately putting pressure on his opponents. By the final day, that opening salvo felt inevitable. In the championship match, it was no different — one hole in, and John Kim was already trailing.
Championship Day: Eagles and a Finish to Remember
On Wednesday, Nguyen faced the gauntlet of semifinal and final play, a total of just 33 holes. He played them in 12-under par, including a spectacular burst late in the afternoon — back-to-back eagles on Nos. 14 and 15. The second eagle didn’t just slam the door; it locked it, bolted it, and tossed away the key, ending the match 5&3.
Kim, to his credit, stayed within a single hole through the front nine. But after the turn, Nguyen shifted into another gear, winning four of the next six holes and sealing the biggest victory of his blossoming career.
By the Numbers
- 29-under for the week across 80 holes
- 5-for-5 in birdies on the opening hole
- 2 eagles in the final match, including the clincher
- 5 wins in three days
“This is the biggest win of my career so far,” Nguyen said afterward. Given the way he dismantled one of the toughest match play fields in the state, it’s hard to imagine it will be his last.
View results for Southern California Match Play
ABOUT THE
Southern California Match Play
The Match Play and Senior Match Play
championships
began in 2008 as a means of bringing new credence
and incentive to the SCGA points program. The
SCGA
points program awards points to golfers who give
strong performances in SCGA, USGA, CGA and other
selected outside tournaments. This Championship is
open to SCGA members with a
Handicap index of 5.4 or below. Players must qualify
or earn an exemption into the
championship field.
The championship format is single-elimination match
play.
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