Takashi Eno blasts a drive during his win at Twin Oaks.
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Takashi Eno closed with a final-round 67 in earning a one-shot victory over Redford Bobbit in the Collegiate Prep Boys division of the recent West Region Thanksgiving Classic at Twin Oaks Golf Course.
Eno started the final round two shots behind Bobbit, but opened play with birdies on the first three holes to draw event. Eno would add birdies at the sixth, eighth, 11th, 13th and 17th holes, with the latter critical in overcoming a near-disastrous double bogey at 16.
Eno’s birdie at the sixth was part of a two-shot swing that gave him his first lead of the day, and with birdies on three of the next seven holes he would stretch that lead to four shots. Bobbit responded with birdies at 15 and 16 to draw back to even, but Eno’s birdie at the 17th would not be answered.
Eno finished at 71-67—138 while Bobbit came in at 69-70—139. Otto Vanhatalo shot 73-69—142 for sole possession of third place while Trevor Norby claimed fourth place with rounds of 72-74—146.
Tsai takes Collegiate Prep Girls division by four shots
Hsin-Ju Tsai put together rounds of 73-75—148 in holding off a trio of players by four shots to win the Collegiate Prep Girls division at Twin Oaks.
Tsai struggled in middle part of her round as Texie June Petchel made a run on the outward nine. Petchel, who started the final round three shots back, carded birdies at 3 and 9 to draw even with Tsai, who made double bogey at the ninth.
With Tsai and Petchel tied with four holes to play, Tsai finished strong with birdies at 15 and 16 while Petchel stumbled with bogeys at 16 and 17.
Petchel’s finish dropped her back to a three-way tie for second at 76-76—152 with Sasha Banks (77-75—152) and Yubin Huh (79-73—152).
Tso bests Tom in Boys 13-15 playoff
Griffin Tso defeated Alan Tom in a playoff to win the Boys 13-15 division at Twin Oaks.
Tso fired rounds of 69-72—141 while Tom shot 70-71—141 to set up the playoff. Noah Henderson, the leader gunning for Player of the Year honors, shot 72-72—143 to miss out on the playoff by just two strokes.
Tso actually trailed Tom by three shots with just five holes to play, but surged ahead with an eagle at the 16th. When he made double bogey at the next hole, the lead vanished and left Tom in position to win outright, but he bogeyed the final hole to set up the playoff.
Noah Miller finished alone in fourth with rounds of 76-70—146 while Kaden Paige rounded out the top five with rounds of 73-75—148.
Sanford’s opening 67 carries her in Girls 14-and-Under
Karah Sanford’s red-hot opening round of 5-under-par 67 staked her to a five-shot lead and she was able to hang on for a two-shot victory in the Girls 14-and-Under division at Twin Oaks.
Sanford’s opening round included eight birdies, with five in the opening seven holes. That would help her to a five-shot lead over Hunter Pate, who would par nine of her first 10 holes of the final round to apply some pressure. Pate had a chance to close the gap to two at No. 15, but made bogey there. Her three pars to close the round were only able to make up one shot on Sanford and she would finish alone in second place at 72-74—146.
Alli Kim shot 79-78—157 to finish in a tie for third with Morgan Goldstein (81-76—157).
Moriyama rolls in Boys 11-12
Yuki Moriyama fired rounds of 73-72—145 to earn a six-shot victory over Brendan Gonzalez in the Boys 11-12 division at Twin Oaks.
Moriyama led from start to finish after playing the first five holes of the event in 2-under-par and coasting from there.
In the final round, Moriyama led Paul Sun by four shots then put even more distance between them with three birdies and no bogeys on the outward nine. Moriyama’s lead was never less than five shots during the final round.
Gonzalez came in at 79-72—151 for second place while Sun shot 77-77—154 for third.
Fioroni easily claims Boys 10-and-Under division
Caden Fioroni fired rounds of 82-77—159 and was never challenged in a two-player duel with Sam Macdorman in the Boys 10-and-Under division at Twin Oaks.
Fioroni carded birdies at the eighth and 16th holes to highlight his final round that included nine pars and no scores higher than bogey.