Robert Gautney: A year after Baguio's dramatic rally, Patel focused on winning first title
Last Updated Thursday, Jul 23 2009 11:10 PM
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Californian file
Brady Baguio, left, came from behind to beat Bhavik Patel, right, in the 2008 Bakersfield City Amateur Golf Championship at Sundale Country Club. Baguio, who has since turned professional, isn’t eligible to compete this weekend.
BY ROBERT GAUTNEY
Contributing local golf columnist
rgautney@bak.rr.com
On the final hole of last year's Bakersfield City Amateur Golf Championship, Brady Baguio pulled off one of the most memorable shots in local amateur history. The resulting eagle-3 on Sundale Country Club's par-5 finishing hole propelled Baguio to a one shot win over a stunned Bhavik Patel. It was Baguio's third City title in four years.
This year, the 30th anniversary, Patel and the rest of the 100-plus player field will not have Baguio to worry about. The former CSUB star has turned professional and is ineligible to compete.
The tournament begins Saturday morning and will conclude Sunday afternoon with the leaders teeing off in the final group around 11 a.m. Sundale Country Club head pro Dave Bolar has the par-72 layout in top condition and the greens will be rolled and ready for Bakersfield's best. Around 75 players are entered in the championship flight and players will also be competing in a handicapped flight and a seniors flight. As it has every year, Sundale will give the net proceeds to the Bakersfield Exchange Club to help with Child Abuse Prevention.
Patel was all set to win his first City title last year with a one shot lead on the final hole and when Baguio hit his tee ball to the right, Patel thought he had the upper hand.
"Yeah, I remember thinking that his tee ball was going to be in the trees," says Patel, who will be a sophomore at Fresno State in the fall. "Then all of a sudden his ball kicked out into the 10th fairway and he was faced with a really tough shot."
Baguio had only one option, to go over the Cypress trees that separate the 10th and 18th holes. Amazingly, Baguio did just that with a high soft draw that went over the trees and landed on the green. Baguio then canned his eagle putt, and when Patel missed his birdie attempt, Baguio had the improbable win.
"Give him credit, he hit a great shot, made eagle which forced me to make birdie and I didn't get it done," says Patel, remembering his fate last year. "Hopefully I will play well and be a little more fortunate this time."
If Patel were to win, he would join John Balfanz, Bud Ardell, Marty Trahan, Jim Sisneros and Baguio as the only players to win both a City and County Amateur title. Patel won the County Amateur last October.
With Baguio out of the picture, who will challenge Patel?
"That's a good question," says Bolar. "There are only four past champions in the field and some of the top college and high school players were unable to play due to other commitments. With that said, we still have a great field assembled and the course is in top shape."
The former champs competing include 4-time winner John Balfanz, 2003 champion Scott Anderson, 2002 titleist and tournament record holder Dale Keene and 2-time winner Dan Hogan.
"You can't count out any of those guys and I could add a few more to that list too," says Patel who downplays his favorite role. "All I know is that you have to play well both days to win this tournament and it's taken a pair of rounds in the 60s the last few years."
The top 10 in the championship flight will also receive points towards the 2009 Sports Authority/Michelob Ultra Player of the Year award. Currently, Scott LaBare leads with 23 points and is followed by Anderson with 22, Brian Edick with 20, Erick Steinbeck with 16 and Ron Kilmer with 15. LaBare, Steinbeck and Kilmer will join Anderson in the field. Kilmer, a CSUB star a few years back, has been close in this event, losing a playoff to Balfanz in 2007.
The public is invited to watch both days. There is no admission fee.
PATEL MISSES CUT AT SCGA AMATEUR
Bhavik Patel shot rounds of 74-76 to finish at 8-over 150 and missed the cut by three shots at the 110th Southern California Golf Association's Amateur Championship last week at Wilshire CC.
"I didn't play well at all," says patel of his 36 hole effort last Friday. "I made two really bad swings and it cost me four shots, but I wasn't going to be a factor."
Brian Edick of Valencia, the Arvin City winner in April, shot 72-72-69-73 and finished equal 12. The winner was 19-year-old UC Davis freshman Austin Graham of San Clemente who shot 6-under 278 to win by one stroke over Tim Hogarth of Northridge and Kevin Marsh of Henderson, NV.
FERNANDEZ THIRD IN TOYOTA TOUR CUP
Stockdale High's Pete Fernandez, Jr. finished third in the invitation only Toyota Tour Cup Series event at Santa Ana CC July 20-21. Fernandez shot rounds of 73 and 70 to finish four back of Chris Capo from Woodland Hills who shot 68-71. Matthew Jun from Temecula was the runner-up at 142. There were a total of 58 players in the field.
After the event, Fernandez was chosen to be a part of the Southern California team that will participate in the Junior America's Cup at Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena July 28-30.
Fernandez joins Mark Hicks, Jack Perry and Matthew Negri on the 4-player So Cal team that will compete against 10 other states, Canada, Mexico and two other California teams from San Diego and up north.
Pete's Father, Pete Sr., reports that Pete, Jr. is very excited to have been chosen for this elite event and has narrowed his choices for a college, but a decision is still a ways down the road.
You can follow Fernandez in the event July 28-30 on the link www.junioramericascup.org.
ANDERSON WINS MEN'S CLUB AT RIVERLAKES RANCH
Scott Anderson, who will be trying to win a second City Am title this weekend, won the Links at RiverLakes Ranch Men's Club championship last weekend with a 1-over 145 score to edge out Erick Steinbeck by one shot and Shannon Chilko by two.
Garrett Randolph won the net flight with a 140 and Julian Williamson was runner-up at 141.
73RD KC WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Entries for the 73rd Kern County Women's Amateur Golf Tournament will be accepted starting August 1 and will end August 31. Entry is $125 and includes greens fees, carts, range balls, prizes and an awards luncheon following the final round at Rio Bravo CC on September 10. The first round will be at Haggerty-North Kern on September 9.
The event is open to all females 16 years and older who have a USGA index from a course in Kern County. The maximum index allowed is 36.3 and the August index will be used. Entry forms can be obtained at all Kern County golf courses and golf retail shops.
If you wish to gain further information, contact Susan Gilbert at 246-6157.
TAFT CITY AMATEUR SIGN-UPS
Entries for the 2nd Taft City Amateur Championship at Mifflin-Buena Vista on August 15-16 are now being accepted through August 9. Entry is $100 and includes greens fees, lunch on Saturday and prizes.
The event is the fourth of the seven Sports Authority/Michelob Ultra Player of the Year series tournaments in which players earn points for top 10 finishes in championship flight play.
Call 398-9720 to sign-up or to get more information.
CHIP SHOTS
* Charles Studor won the Sycamore Canyon Men's Club One Man Scramble last weekend with a 66, one better than Dan Mello, while Don Bush was low net at 58 with Frank Miller second at 61 and Steve darling third with a 62.
* Blake McPherson and Mark Charmley tied with 69's in the BV/NK Men's Club monthly tournament at BV on July 19. Josh Barnes was third with a 71 while Charles Breaseale was low net at 62.
* Meghan Shain from Frontier High will be competing in the girls' 14-15 age flight at the Optimist International Junior Championships at the PGA National Resort and Spa this Sunday through Tuesday. Shain earned a spot in qualifying in June. Connor Husor, a recent graduate of BHS, will compete in the boys' 16-18 age group July 30 through August 2.
Tee to Green appears weekly at Bakersfield.com/sports. You can reach Gautney at rgautney@bak.rr.com.
