It took four extra holes at El Dorado Park GC, but when all was said and done, Brady Esterbrooks, of San Diego, survived the heat and a three-way playoff to become the 2026 SCGA Public Links Championship winner.
Esterbrooks, who carded an opening-round 68, made seven birdies and one lone bogey to shoot 65 in his final round. It was good enough to move into a tie atop the leaderboard with defending champion Mitchell Fedorka, and Nik Neal, who fired a tournament-low 64.
Neal’s seven-under final round was made possible by a truly remarkable back nine that added up to just 29 strokes after five birdies and an eagle on the 36th hole. The eagle that punched Neal’s ticket to the playoff came by way of a made 60-foot putt and completed a comeback that saw him trailing the lead by five shots when he made the turn.
With Esterbrooks, Fedorka and Neal advancing to playoff holes, it was Neal who fell first when his birdie try lipped out. Fedorka, however, had his own heroic moment with a made 30-footer to equal Esterbrooks.
Esterbrooks and Fedorka would each make long birdie putts on the second playoff hole and pars on the third, setting up a 40th hole in two days of excessive Southern California heat and humidity.
Ultimately, Esterbrooks would prevail with a two-putt par on the playoff hole after Fedorka couldn’t get up-and-down from a greenside bunker.
The SCGA Public Links Championship is a celebration and showcase of golfers who belong to public golf clubs. This week saw incredible performances by three public players who filled a highlight reel with great golf. Congratulations to the entire field and to Brady Esterbrooks for emerging victorious.