MURRIETA – Although Great Oak’s Nathan Sampson isn’t a member at Murrieta’s Bear Creek Golf Club, the Wolfpack senior standout has had a history of success on the Jack Nicklaus designed layout. He held the overnight lead after a one under par round of 71 at Cross Creek and was looking to add his name as a league champion on Thursday. It wasn’t easy but the San Diego State signee did just that, shooting a final round 71 to post a two-day score of 141 (-2) and record a two shot margin of victory over defending champion Ryan Abuan and Chayce Frye of Chaparral.
“Coming up 18 it dawned on me that this was my last chance to win this championship and to get it done is a great feeling,” Sampson said.
All four members of the final group (Murrieta Valley’s Brayden Gilpin rounded out the foursome) shot even par 36 on their front nines as no ground was gained or lost. Highlighting the front nine were a couple of near aces from Sampson (on the par three sixth hole) and Gilpin (at number eight) that both players converted for birdies. In fact, the final group made three of their five combined birdies on par threes.
As the temperatures dropped outside, things were heating up on the back nine.
Frye got up and down from right of the green at 11 while Sampson two putted from 40 feet as the two recorded birdies on the par five with Sampson maintaining a two-shot lead. At the short par four 13th Sampson nearly drove the green but made bogey to Frye’s par which chopped the lead to one. Frye fell two shots back again after missing a short par putt at 14 but would start the final three holes looking at a one-shot deficit after Sampson bogeyed 15, failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker.
“Between 15 and 16 I had to remind myself that I still had the lead and to calm down,” Sampson added. “This was probably the worst one under par round of my life but it got the job done and I go into Monday’s CIF-SS regional qualifier with a nice confidence boost. Credit to Chayce and Ryan for not going away and making me earn it with some great shotmaking.”
At 16, Abuan challenged a back right flag and stuck the tee shot to about five feet above the hole, setting up a much-needed birdie opportunity. Sampson meanwhile got up and down from just right of the green to maintain his lead.
Then at 17, Abuan holed an approach shot from the middle of the fairway for eagle to force his way back into contention. After a 300-yard tee shot Sampson stuck a wedge to two feet and tapped in for a birdie, maintaining the one shot lead from Abuan and Frye. At 18, Sampson, Abuan and Frye all stuck short approach shots to six feet. Sampson and Frye both converted their opportunities while Abuan missed. Sampson prevailed by two and also tied for the second lowest winning score over the last 12 years.
Frye more than had his chances to tie or even win but had a number of putts lip out (including a pair of birdie putts from less than ten feet at five and 10).
In addition to the race for medalist honors, there were eight other spots to Monday’s Southern Section Central Regional qualifier to fill. Great Oak’s Koa Baur shot a five under par round of 67 (the low round of the tournament) and went from three shots outside the line when play started to seven shots clear of 9th place when it finished.
Also earning bids into Monday’s CIF-SS regional qualifying tournament in addition to Sampson (GO), Abuan (GO), Frye (Chap) and Kapur (GO) were Clay Yarbro (MV), Gilpin (MV), Travis McSparran (MV), Jayden Alden (MV) and Sam Amoroso (GO).
On Monday, the top 20 will advance to a second individual qualifying round on Thursday, May 18 at Oxnard’s River Ridge Golf Course (Vineyard Course).
Derryl Trujillo can be reached at socaltrekkie@gmail.com.
