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Mid-Amateur Championship

DAMON KRAUSE BIRDIES FINAL HOLE TO CAPTURE TITLE

April 16, 2019

Photos
Results

Underneath cloudy skies and brisk temperatures, a heated battle warmed the greater Long Beach area during the 36th playing of the SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Virginia CC. A jammed leaderboard throughout the 54-hole competition left much in doubt, but in the end, it was a first-time SCGA champion Damon Krause who birdied the 18th hole for the prestigious title.

Krause opened the Mid-Am with a blistering 1-under 69, one of only four rounds under par in the entire championship, and held a one-stroke advantage heading into the final day.

“Yesterday I hit the ball beautifully,” said Krause. “But then today, I just chose the wrong club on every shot and I had to scramble. My short game came through, which really hasn’t been that much of a strength in the past.”

On that final day, Krause’s eventual triumph was anything but certain. A who’s who of SCGA stalwarts littered the leaderboard throughout the championship’s final day but it became a three-way battle down the stretch.

Playing two groups in front of the leaders, Jonathan Minkoff continued his week-long birdie barrage, posting two straight on No. 11 and 12 to vault himself into the lead at 4-over. Minkoff pared No. 18 to post 1-under 69 and waited as the leader in the clubhouse.

While Minkoff watched the leaderboard, Krause was in a rock fight with playing partner Ryan Wilkins. The burly, bearded San Diegan was a monster off the tee all day, ripping the big stick with reckless abandon. After his birdie on No. 12, and a bogey from Krause, Wilkins took the lead down the home stretch. But after a wayward drive and a tough uphill recovery shot into the par-4 17th, Wilkins was unable to get up-and-down for par and lost a share of the lead.


The scene was set – Krause knew he needed to birdie the par-5 18th to capture the championship. A lasered drive left Krause with an iron into the blind kidney-shaped green, but he brushed it short into a gully about 15 yards before the green. Krause was staring at a tricky uphill chip onto a plateaued flagstick location.

“I had a fluffy lie at the bottom of the hill,” said Krause. “In my mind I was just thinking don’t chunk it and have it roll back to my feet.”

Well, he didn’t. His chip landed perfectly and rolled up to a couple feet, securing his Mid-Amateur Championship title.


The top 10 finishers in this year’s Mid-Am Championship are exempt for next year’s Mid-Amateur tournament. Additionally, the top five will earn a spot into the SCGA Amateur Championship, which is scheduled for July 11-14 at Lakeside GC.

Mid-Amateur Championship News

Matt Cohn Claims the 2025 SCGA Mid-Amateur Title at Soule Park GC

Torey Edwards Notches Second Mid-Am Title in Come From Behind Fashion

NICK GEYER HOLDS OFF TWO PAST CHAMPS TO WIN MID-AM

Past Champions

Year Winner Site
2025 Matt Cohn Soule Park GC
2024 Torey Edwards Santa Ana CC
2023 Nick Geyer Bakersfield CC
2022 Taylor Haden Annandale GC
2021 Stephen Hale Victoria Club
2020 Torey Edwards Mission Viejo CC
2019 Damon Krause Virginia CC
2018 Jeff Wilson The Saticoy Club
2017 Dan Sullivan Ironwood CC
2016 Corby Segal Brentwood CC
2015 Jeff Wilson Santa Ana CC
2014 Ramie Sprinkling Valencia CC
2013 Robert Funk Bermuda Dunes CC
2012 Tim Hogarth Rancho Santa Fe GC
2011 Scott Almquist Mesa Verde CC
2010 Tim Hogarth Hillcrest CC
2009 Tim Hogarth Hacienda GC
2008 Jeff Wilson Toscana CC
2007 Tim Hogarth Mission Viejo CC
2006 Robert Funk Bear Creek GC
2005 John McClure North Ranch CC
2004 Mantor Hays Pauma Valley CC
2003 Eric Wang Mesa Verde CC
2002 Scott McGihon Big Canyon CC
2001 Craig Steinberg Lakeside GC
2000 John Pate Virginia CC
1999 Tim Hogarth Victoria Club
1998 Pat Duncan Saticoy CC
1997 Brian Ricketts San Gabriel CC
1996 Craig Steinberg Victoria Club
1995 Brad Larsen De Anza CC
1994 Mark Johnson Indian Ridge CC
1993 Mark Johnson Yorba Linda CC
1992 Craig Anderson Bear Creek GC
1991 Sandy Galbraith Apple Valley CC
1990 Mitch Voges La Purisima GC
1989 Mark Johnson Apple Valley CC
1988 Buzz Greene Santa Ana CC
1987 Steve Lass Apple Valley CC
1986 Sandy Galbraith Wood Ranch GC
1985 Bernie LeBeau Bakersfield CC
1984 Jim Myers Apple Valley CC
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