After more than 1,000 initial entries were narrowed down to 160 competitors in the 88th Amateur Net Championship, champions were crowned in four flights on Apr. 12 at Soboba Springs Golf Course. The two-day event is affectionately dubbed “The People’s Championship,” and it is the SCGA’s premier net event.
Arroyo Flight
Jeff Pieri (Rustic Canyon Club) came into the final round three shots off the pace but finished as the only player in his flight to shoot under par on the second day (net 69). That valiant effort was more than good enough to post a clubhouse lead that would ultimately turn into a championship victory some 30 minutes later.
“My driver was excellent. I hit it very well today. These greens are very hard to putt. I didn’t putt it that well, but I drove it great.”
Pieri’s great driving set him up to make four net birdies, two gross birdies, and one gross eagle.
Pieri finished three shots clear of Nabih Khoury (+1, Simi Hills GC). Dennis Palpallatoc (+3, Eagle Glen Players Club), Duncan Avery (+3, Alondra Park GC), and Waran Venkat (+4, Griffith Park GC) rounded out the top five for the Arroyo Flight.
Mission Flight
It was a championship to remember for Matthew Benson (Sepulveda GC) who not only won his flight but finished as the only player in the entire field with both rounds under par (net 67, net 70). Benson carded 13 net birdies over 36 holes and cruised to five-shot victory at a net 7-under.
“My driver was working really well and I was able to get up and down a few times. I’ve been playing in tournaments for a couple of years and this was the first time I was able to qualify for this championship. I was pretty excited about it. I had a blast. The last two days of golf were the most fun I’ve had playing in awhile.”
Nick Ferrante (Industry Hills GC) finished second at 2-under par but the highlight of his tournament was having his 91-year-old father ride in the cart with him. Micaiah Boettner (+2, The Vineyard at Escondido), Kevin Odekirk (+3, Mission Viejo CC), and Greg Gause (+3, Soboba Springs GC) made up the rest of the top five.
Pacific Flight
While the gusty conditions may not be ideal for everyone, Frank Manzano (Rancho Vista GC) thrived in them. The Antelope Valley native shot a 68 (net) and a 73 (net) to win the Pacific Flight comfortably by four strokes. Manzano’s red-hot front-nine included six net birdies that helped him finish 3-under par (net) for the championship.
“I had a great time getting a chance to meet various people from all across Southern California. The venue was beautiful. The SCGA always puts on a first-class event. I come from the high desert. We play in the wind 70% of the time. It’s not easy to play in. It was a decided advantage for us wind players.”
Runner-up Nick Parisi (+1, Bear Creek GC) was the only other player in the flight to card an opening round under par. Parisi finished in second ahead of Doug Hutchinson (+2, Costa Mesa GC), Gary Cowles (+4, Soule Park GC) and Alan Forbes (+6, Solera GC).
San Andreas Flight
After starting the second and final round four shots clear of the field, Clint Yount (The Golf Bar) was able to fend off blustering winds and every player in pursuit to win the San Andreas Flight despite following up an opening 66 (net) with a closing 76 (net). Even with a 10-shot difference in his rounds, Yount finished with a four-shot margin of victory, a testament to his game and the conditions.
“This was my first time in an individual competition,” Yount said. “It was great. It’s really cool to see what you have (against everyone else). This course is beautiful. The greens were so pure. If you have a competitive bone in your body you have to come out and try it. I loved meeting the other guys and ladies. It was a great time and I’d definitely recommend coming out here next year.”
Yount finished the tournament atop the leaderboard at -2 (net) while Evan Pascasio (+2, SCGA Junior Club), Sam Padilla (+2, Eagle Glen GC), Paul Ganus (+3, Woodley Lakes GC), and Ed Kwok (+4, Hawaii Golfers of OC) rounded out the top five.