Servite’s Bollini Takes Argentina by Storm

Nico Bollini of Yorba Linda, a 17-year-old senior at Servite, won the Argentine Amateur Championship in convincing fashion last week at Hurlingham Country Club in Buenos Aries.

Bollini, who has signed with USC, defeated Miro Carranza, 10 and 9, Sunday in the 36-hole final. It was the largest margin of victory in the tournament since 1946 when Mario Gonzalez defeated Tulio Martinez, 14 and 12.

With the victory, Bollini receives an exemption into the Argentine Open, a European PGA Tour event to be played March 29-April 1 at The Jockey Club in Buenos Aries.

Bollini, whose father, Armando, is Argentine, shot 70-68--138 and was stroke-play medalist in the tournament, which was played in temperatures over 100 degrees with course conditions similar to a U.S. Open. Bollini’s score was one stroke off the tournament scoring record by a medalist. He is only the second medalist in the 106-year history of the tournament to win.

In the final against Carranza, the No. 3-ranked amateur in Argentina, Bollini took a 5-up lead after the first 18, then made birdies on six of the first nine holes in the afternoon to close out the match.

He defeated Martin Monguzzi, 4 and 2, in the first round and Santiago Junco, 2 and 1, in the second.

His quarterfinal match went to the 18th hole, but Juan Gil missed a 10-foot birdie putt that would have sent the match to extra holes and Bollini won, 1 up. In the semifinal, Bollini defeated Martin Rappaport, 2 and 1.

BACK TO FUTURES

Eunice Choi of Dove Canyon and Russy Gulyanamitta of Huntington Beach tied for 19th in the season-opening Pacific Bell Futures Tour Classic last weekend at Quail Ranch in Moreno Valley.

Choi, a graduate of Laguna Hills High and UCLA, and Gulyanamitta, who played at Cypress College last fall, finished with three-day totals of 221, 10 strokes behind winner Michele Fuller of West Palm Beach, Fla.

Choi earned $818 for the finish. Gulyanamitta, a finalist in the U.S. Women’s Public Links Championship last year, was playing as an amateur. Fountain Valley High graduate Candie Kung, a sophomore at USC also playing as an amateur, shot 75-79-73--227 and tied for 36th.

The tour moves to the San Diego area this week with the Barona Creek Women’s Golf Classic Fri.-Sun. at Barona Creek Golf Club in Lakeside. Choi, Gulyanamitta and Kung are entered, as are Danielle Aimee of Newport Beach, Kim Goldstrohm of Tustin and Teri Lynne Goolsby of Garden Grove.

JUNIOR SCHOLARS

Kyle Warren of Cypress shot 74-78--152 and won the boys’ championship of the Junior Amateur Golf Scholars tournament at Shandin Hills Golf Club in San Bernardino.

Warren, a freshman at Los Alamitos High, finished five strokes ahead of Miguel Sanjuan of Garden Grove.

Julie Kim of Rancho Palos Verdes won the girls’ title. She shot 80-73--153 and won by 10 strokes over Jennifer Osborn of Huntington Beach.

MONARCH GETS NEW DECK

Alan Deck has been named general manager at Monarch Beach in Dana Point. Deck, formerly the general manager at the Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage, replaces Troy Sprister.

LPGA TICKETS AVAILABLE

Tickets are on sale for the LPGA City of Hope Championship April 12-14 at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles.

Ticket prices are $12 for a one-day pass or $25 for a week-long pass and can be purchased by calling (213) 480-3232 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com