Harris, Barry Win 2024 Clark County Amateur Golf Championship
Preston Harris (Championship) and Jacob Barry (Net) won titles at the 2024 Clark County Amateur. The tournament was held Oct. 26-27, 2024, at Boulder Creek GC. It was the SNGA’s final major of the year.–by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider
Championship
Preston Harris eagled the par-5 fourth hole both days en route to a one-stroke victory in the Championship Division.
It was Harris’ second SNGA win as he also won a team title in 2023.
“It’s always great to win a tournament but to put the Clark County Amateur on the resume is great,” he said. “This type of tournament is really great when you have a good field of players like this.”
Harris said coming into the tournament he was playing well…but wound up not having his best stuff over the weekend.
“About the last six months I’ve been hitting it well,” said Harris who is a caddie at The Summit. “But this weekend I was just grinding. My game didn’t show up but I was able to stay confident. I went back to my two-iron and hit a lot of three-quarter shots…something I do pretty well. I just tried to keep going mentally and it worked out.”
The two eagles on the fourth hole–he wound up with three eagles over the two days–also helped the confidence.
“I hit a couple of good drives both days and hit the second shots close enough to make some putts,” he said. “The first one was about 25-feet away and today it was about three-feet.”
He added the par 3s on the back nine in the final round wound up being surprise birdies.
“I made a 35-footer on 13 and then a 45-to-50-footer on 17,” he said with a laugh. “I saw the line well both times but neither one looked like a ‘2’ until both dropped in the hole.”
Championship
Preston Harris, 69-70—139
Brett Sawaia, 71-69—140
Grant McKay, 68-72—140
Net
Jacob Barry picked an ideal day for one of the best rounds of his life.
Barry had back-to-back net eagles to go along with eight net birdies in rallying for a two-shot victory in the Net Division.
It was Barry’s first SNGA title.
Barry was five shots off the pace heading into the second round before posting his net 62, 10-under-par.
“I haven’t played that well since I was in my 20s,” Barry said. “I just played exceptional golf for me and it was just awesome. And for my first win to be a major, it’s just a great feeling.”
Barry suffered a heart attack in March and is taking life one day at a time…and one round at a time.
“Every moment I appreciate more now,” he said. “It feels great to play great and I played with an awesome group of players.”
He said everything lined up for him in the final round.
“I chipped and putted very well,” he said. “The course was in great shape and I really limited my problems. It feels good when the ball goes where you want it to go.”
He said the final round was one he really can’t explain.
“I haven’t gotten two birdies in a row in probably 20 or 30 years,” he said of his back-to-back net eagles. “I played out of my mind and hopefully it continues.”
But he also said he’s a realist.
“It can go bad quick,” he said. “I just try to stay within myself and hit the next shot the best I can. It was great today, but tomorrow I can go out and shoot 100…and then I’m back to myself again. But with this round, it certainly helps my confidence.”
Net
Jacob Barry, 69-62—131
Chris Kanthak, 64-69—133
Joe Alvarez, 71-66—137
