Brett Silvernail is the 2014 Nipomo Amateur champion.
Brett Silvernail, a Ventura County native who plays for the UCSB golf team, won the Nipomo Amateur on Sunday by edging four other contenders by a single stroke.
Silvernail’s two-day total of 68-73—141 bested Joey Downey, Chris Doyle, Rory Doll and Johnny Hogan. A two-shot lead after 17 allowed Silvernail to play the final hole without too much pressure, especially after a strong first swing.
“I hit probably the best tee shot I hit all week,” Silvernail said.
Doyle and Silvernail began the day in the lead after open-round 68s at Monarch Dunes Golf Club. Hogan and Sean Crocker were one stroke behind.
Saturday’s highlight came when, not one, but two players – Chris Doyle and Matt Thomas – recorded hole-in-ones on the same hole.
Sunday was much windier and scores rose as a result.
“It was really just tough conditions,” Silvernail said.
A key hole for the champion – who was bogey free on the front nine – came on the par-5 15th when he hit a water hazard twice. He recovered without inflicting insurmountable damage and got back on track by birdying the next hole.
Silvernail is the reigning champion at the Santa Barbara City Golf Championship and his Gauchos return to action from a two-month hiatus later this month.
“I really wanted to knock off the spiderwebs.”
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT TOP 10 RESULTS
1st Brett Silvernail 68 73 141 2nd Joey Downey 72 70 142 3rd Chris Doyle 68 74 142 4th Rory Doll 73 69 142 5th Johnny Hogan 69 73 142 6th Sean Crocker 69 74 143 7th Cole Nygren 70 75 145 8th Jimmy Castles 71 74 145 9th Kyler Sauer 71 74 145 10th Blake McPhearson 70 76 146
