LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Oct. 29, 2017)–For 15-year old Andrew Jung, or for any golfer for that matter, it was a dream round. Jung posted a second-round 12-under-par 60 to rally for a three-stroke victory in the 2017 Las Vegas City Amateur championship division. Eduardo Ramirez capitalized on impressive play on the par 3 holes to win by six strokes in the net division. The event was held Oct. 28-29, 2017 at the Las Vegas Golf Club. –By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
Plus it was all in the family as father and son Austin and Lee Coate played and the Gambini family had three players in the field.
Championship Division
But the day and weekend belonged to Jung. His spectacular round of 60 included an eagle and 10 birdies. Jung, from San Diego, remained in town after playing in a Shriners Hospitals for Children Open pre-qualifier last week at Boulder Creek. In that event, Jung shot 2-under 70 to finish 21st. He didn’t advance but was the low amateur in a field of 87 pros and top amateurs.
As for his epic round at Las Vegas Golf Club, the teenager knew he needed to put in a low round on Sunday because he was tied for ninth entering the final day. His target score was 66 so he more than accomplished his goal and a hot putter was a big part of his success.
“It seemed like every putt I hit went in,” he said. “I made a couple of long putts and a few medium range putts. I just couldn’t have putted any better.”
He only missed one green in the final round and even that proved to be no problem.
“I chipped in for birdie on the par 3 (the 12th, his third hole of the round),” he said of his start in the final round which opened with four straight birdies.
He didn’t come to the first tee with high expectations, but soon into the round, that changed.
“There was no target score when I started the round,” he said. “I was just going to go out and try and do my best.”
He made the turn at 6-under-par and then proceeded to birdie three of the next four holes. After an eagle on the sixth hole, he started thinking about elusive numbers.
He needed to birdie the final three holes to hit the course record of 58. He did birdie the seventh to get to 12 under but ended his round with a pair of pars.
“I knew the course record was 58 (set by Monte Money),” he said. “I did think about it late in the round and I think I could have done a little better, but this was a very good round for me.”
Jung’s previous low round was a 9-under 63.
Championship Division
Andrew Yong H. Jung, 69-60—129
Yuki Moriyama, 67-65—132
Kenny Ebalo, 66-66—132
Chris Ebster, 65-67—132
Aidan Goldstein, 66-67—133
Greg Horodesky, 65-68—133
Net Division
Eduardo Ramirez admitted his play on the par 3s, along with solid putting, were keys to his victory.
“I played all of the par 3s very well,” he said. “It was good putting on those holes.” For the tournament, Ramirez had one birdie and seven pars on the eight par 3s.
It was the first win in SNGA events for Ramirez who plays a lot of his golf at Las Vegas Golf Club.
“It helped a little bit that I’ve played the course,” he said.
Ramirez added that down the stretch it was keeping his mind on the job at hand.
“It was all about the focus,” Ramirez said. “I was just focusing on my putting.”
Net Division
Eduardo Ramirez, 68-67—135
George Yocum, 70-71—141
Taylor Woodin, 70-72—142
Shane Jensen, 72-70—142
Michael Godfrey, 74-72—146
Andy Sessa, 74-72—146
The Family Business
The Coate family: Son Austin finished 55th with rounds of 77-77–154. Father Lee finished 66th with rounds of 78-80–158.
