Tyler Collier wins Burbank City Amateur Golf Championship by three strokes
BURBANK — Tyler Collier came into the final round of the 12th rendition of the Burbank City Amateur Golf Championship on Sunday confident.
Collier, a redshirt sophomore on the UCLA men’s golf team, wasn’t about to take an eight-stroke advantage for granted.
Relying on a consistent short game and playing through warm temperatures throughout the 54-hole event, Collier carded a two-over-par 73 on Sunday to best Niels Andersen by three strokes at De Bell Golf Club.
PHOTOS: Burbank City Amateur Golf Championship Championship
“I still had to be able to go out there and putt well,” said Collier, a Chico resident who made his first appearance in the tournament. “I had to stick to what I was doing best and the greens were pretty good throughout [the tournament]. I needed to stay aggressive.
“Things worked out well in the end. I wasn’t thinking about what the other guys were doing. [UCLA Coach Derek Freeman] told me about the tournament two or three weeks ago. It feels good to win.”
Collier carded a 135 through the first two rounds to build an eight-stroke lead over Reilly McMahon. Backed by a tournament-best mark of 64 on Sunday, Andersen of Santa Barbara tried to make a late title bid. Andersen came in tied for fourth before enjoying a tournament-best round on the 5,609-yard course.
“I started making putts and I got into a zone,” said Andersen, a freshman on the Santa Barbara City College golf team. “It got my confidence up and everything just came together.
“My ball striking worked well throughout most of the tournament. I took a practice round here last week to become familiar with the course. I think it helped me in the end and I have something to build off now.”
McMahon had a 73 on Sunday and Jim Camaione carded a 71 to tie for third at 216 in the field of 23. Shane Favinger and Robert Valerio, who won the tournament last year, had a 71 each to tie for fourth at 218. Don Baker registered a 73 to finish fifth at 220.
A pair of Burbank residents won their two-round flights, which started Saturday.
Burbank residents Jeff Keith and Mericio Ortega picked up victories.
Keith won the A Flight with a net score of 71 to finish at 137 and top Daniel Dohery (71 for 141).
Ortega, a longtime De Bell member, notched a net tally of 65 to finish first in the B Flight at 129. Ortega beat Jerry Piro of Glendale by 14 strokes after Piro had a net score 75. It marked the third straight year Ortega won the flight.
In the Senior Flight, Aram Gezalian of Hollywood finished with a net score of 64 to finish at 129. Ray Hall took second with a net score of 63 to finish at 130.