Rancho Santa Fe resident Trae Cassell doesn't compete in many events because he has difficulty advancing through qualifiers. When he does qualify, he's prone to slow starts.
This time, he put it all together--despite yet another sluggish start.
Cassell rebounded from an opening round 77 in what was brutal weather conditions to card a second round 66 and arguably an even better final round 71 to win the annual California Senior Amateur Championship by four shots over co-runners-up Craig Davis and John Adams on the par-72 Dunes Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club.
Both the first and final rounds saw players fighting 35-plus mph winds and temperatures around 45 degrees.
"This win is right up at the top for me. I'm a slow starter, but I've learned to not let that bother me," said Cassell, who qualified via a stellar 65 at Soule Park in SoCal. "It was a grind. The wind, the greens--the course can get you very fast. The numbers can add up in a hurry."
On the par-3 14th Cassell, originally from Atlanta, nearly saw one of those high numbers. After a tee shot into winds blowing 35-plus mph, Cassell's birdie putt rolled (with help from the wind) off the green and into the bunker. He'd bounce back from the shock by getting up and down to save bogey, which was huge. At the time, Dan Sullivan and John Adams were also near the top. They too escaped potential disaster by carding miraculous bogeys.
For Cassell, a big move came moments later on the ensuing par-5 14th when he hit a beautiful approach shot that resulted in a birdie. Suddenly, he had a cushion over both Sullivan and Adams. Cassell went on to play his final three holes at even-par to seal the victory.
"I got to play with two players I have a lot of admiration for (Sullivan and Adams)," Cassell said. "It wasn't until the end that I was able to pull away."
Sullivan, an SCGA legend who was looking for his first Cal Senior Am title, ran off three straight birdies from holes Nos. 11 through 13 to put himself in contention., Unfortunately, the 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur runner-up played his final four holes at 5-over par.
Adams, who was also looking for his first Cal Senior crown, never really got going, posting a final round 74. Davis jumped into a tie for second thanks to a solid 69 in the wind.
NCGA Hall of Famer Casey Boyns, who is one of just two players to win the California Amateur and Cal Senior (Gary Vanier), finished fifth at 222 after a final round 71.
Along with hoisting the trophy, Cassell, who works in real estate at Madison Club in La Quinta, also earned some perks, including an exemption into final qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.
Recap courtesy of the NCGA