Nathan Celusta grabs first-day lead at Southern California Golf Assn. Amateur Championship
GLENDALE — Following 35 holes and with daylight about to evaporate, Nathan Celusta had enough energy to cap a superior effort during the first two rounds of the 116th annual Southern California Golf Assn. Amateur Championship on Friday at Oakmont Country Club.
Celusta drained a 60-foot putt for birdie on the par-five ninth hole to grab a three-stroke lead and finish with a total two-round score of seven-under par 135 at the scenic course. He opened with a 67 on the par-71 site and came back with a 68.
“It was eight o’clock and you’re fatigued from the long day of having to play 36 holes and I chipped it in under difficult conditions,” said Celusta, who leads Aaron Wise of Lake Elsinore by three strokes and Burbank High graduate Corby Segal by four strokes entering Saturday’s 18-hole third round. “It’s just a wonderful treat to make that last shot and hold the lead.
“I felt great out there the whole day. I made my first three shots in the first round for birdies and took it from there. I just wanted to go as low as I could. I wasn’t going to chance anything.”
Celusta, who last played at Oakmont in 2011 during the U.S. Open qualifier, finished Friday with 12 birdies and 19 pars.
Tim Hoggarth of Northridge and Norman Xiong of Canyon Lake each shot two-round scores of 140 to tie for fourth. Hoggarth, who won the event in 2004, and Xiong opened with 72s and finished with 68s.
A pair of Oakmont members competed in the championship and received mixed results.
Keith Kinsel of La Cañada Flintridge fired a 74 and 77 for a 151 to tie for 38th in the field of 84 and make the cut of 42 plus ties on the 6,864-yard course.
Kris Hons, the defending club champion and a Glendale resident, struggled throughout parts of his rounds and had an 83 and 77 for 160 and didn’t make the cut.
The final round of the prestigious event will be held Sunday at Oakmont, which has hosted the event six times since the championship began in 1900. It marked the first time Oakmont has hosted the event since 1980.
Kinsel, a Crescenta Valley High graduate, made his first appearance in the event since 2012 and parred his last two holes to garner advancement.
“I played a little bit tight,” said Kinsel, who will tee off at 9:21 a.m. Saturday. “The greens were in great shape and I made those last two shots for par.
“It’s great to be able to advance. I’m pleased to be able to keep playing. Had I not made the cut, then it still would have been a great experience to be a part of this tournament on my home course.”
Hons got off to an excellent start in the first round, recording three birdies and three pars on his first six holes. Then he encountered difficulty by double-bogeying the next two holes. He finished the two-round action with four pars, 17 pars, nine bogeys and five double-bogeys.
Segal, who served as caddie for Brandon Hagy at the U.S. Open in June, had a fine long and short game to put him in good position on the scoreboard.
Segal, who graduated from Burbank in 1989 and resides in Santa Clarita, collected eight birdies, 23 pars and five bogeys. He had a triple-bogey on the par-five 18th hole, but it didn’t detract from what he was able to accomplish.
“I was able to go out there and control the ball,” said Segal, a Cal State Northridge graduate. “I made the putts when I needed to, except on the last hole.
“It’s a long course, so you need to be aware of where you are hitting. I’m happy.”
Oakmont hosted the event in 1941, 1950, 1859, 1970 and 1980. It’s one of the longest-standing championships in the state and premiered in 1900 at the Los Angeles Country Club.
