MURRIETA – Eric Hagen’s lead after 36 holes at the ASHER Tour’s Bear Creek Shootout was only four shots and on Tuesday afternoon, March 28, at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta that lead very quickly evaporated. After a front nine of five bogeys, a double bogey, and two birdies Hagen posted a front nine 40 (+4) and dropped to -3. He’d shoot a final round 77 (+5) and finish two shots off the pace.
Joshua Matz of Calabasas took advantage of the overnight leader’s struggles and behind an eagle at nine and birdie at ten posted a one under par round of 71 and three round total of 212 (-4). It would end up being good enough to earn the $5,000 first prize.
Low scores in Tuesday’s final round were hard to come by as only six players shot under par rounds.
One of those under par rounds came from Murrieta’s Josh Anderson who won the 2019 California State Open at Bear Creek and was looking to add another title at his home course. Anderson was steady, making one birdie with no bogeys to shoot a final round 71 (-1) and post a three-day total of -2. He’d finish in a three-way tie for second place and earn $2,050 for the week.
Canyon Lake’s Chad Hambright just missed the money with a T14 finish after rounds of 75-74-74=223 (+7).
Murrieta’s Aiden Canada, entered as an amateur, shot rounds of 78-72-79=229 (+13) and posted a T24 finish.
Andrew Leegwater, a Bear Creek member, missed the cut after rounds of 79-82=161 (+17) along with Temecula’s Anthony Marzett who shot 81-81=162 (+18).
Next week the ASHER Tour makes their final stop of 2023 in our area with another event at Soboba Springs Golf Course next Thursday and Friday that will serve as a tune-up for PGA Tour Canada qualifying a week later.
Derryl Trujillo can be reached via email at socaltrekkie@gmail.com.
