Playing at Industry Hills GC for the fourth straight year, the Amateur Net Championship concluded this afternoon. 180 competitors competed in four flights, determined by handicap. Arturo Chavez, Rick Cook, Christopher Nayve and Ron Wrobel were this year's champions.
Winning the Bobby Jones flight, Chavez recorded rounds of 71 and 68 to finish at a four under par 139. Chavez, who played in the tournament last year and failed to break 80 in either of his rounds, said the key to winning this time was his improved putting.
Coming in second place in the Bobby Jones flight was Sean Birren, who boasts a +2 handicap. Birren finished at 2 under par, firing rounds of 71 and 70 in the tournament.
The Jack Nicklaus flight was won by Cook, who finished two strokes ahead of competitor Charles Alfonso. Cook, who was playing on his home course, recorded rounds of 71 and 72 to finish 1 under par. Cook was the only player in his flight to finish the tournament under par.
"My irons [were working well today]," said Cook. "I got lucky on a lot of shots but I didn't give up. That's what this whole thing was about for me."
When asked how home course advantage aided him, Cook replied, "I think it helped on the greens, reading the greens, and it helped knowing where I could miss the ball."
Nayve easily won the Arnold Palmer flight, ending the two-day tournament at 10 under par and four strokes ahead of his nearest competition, Mitchel Stanton. Nayve, who is a member of Balboa Park Men's GC, shot rounds of 65 and 68.
"I think just being patient," said Nayve when asked what he did differently then the past years he competed in this tournament. "I actually wasn't playing well coming into this, so I just told myself to practice my short game and putting. This is a tournament for all of us, you don't have to be a scratch golfer, so you can come out here and enjoy. Play golf with a bunch of good guys."
Wrobel of Los Verdes Mens GC won the Ben Hogan flight, edging out William Berg by one stroke. Wrobel concluded the tournament with a 137, contributing rounds of 67 and 70. "I shot better [this year]," said Wrobel, who has played in the tournament three out of the past four years. "I have no idea [what the difference was], but finally it was good enough to come in first."
