St. Mary’s Jonathan De Los Reyes Sets Course Record at Poppy Hills
July 12, 2015
St. Mary’s senior Jonathan De Los Reyes wasn’t able to complete his bid for an epic comeback, but he certainly left his stamp at the 12th NCGA Amateur Stroke Play Championship.
In Sunday’s final round, the Sacramento resident established a course record at host par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Course after carding a sensational, tournament low 6-under 65 with the course playing at 6,716 yards. The previous low on the new Poppy Hills was a 66 carded by Champions Tour member Blaine McCallister during last year’s Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.
Jonathan De Los Reyes
“It was a really good round,” said De Los Reyes, who charged his way to a third place finish after starting the day nine behind eventual winner Robby Salomon. “I was just hitting it in the right spots.”
After carding a front-nine 34 that included a birdie, a bogey and an eagle on the par-5 9th, De Los Reyes turned on the jets. On the back-nine, he’s post a 31 with five birdies to go against just one bogey.
He could’ve gone lower too. On both the 12th and 14th, a putt for par and another birdie, respectively, swirled the cup but didn’t fall in.
On the finishing par-5 18th he reached the green in two after hitting a 7-iron from 190 yards out but had to settle for a two-putt birdie.
“Towards the end of the round I was getting pumped. I knew I was getting closer to the lead,” said De Los Reyes, who was slowed down by a pair of Salomon birdies on the 13th and 14th holes.
As for getting the hot hand, De Los Reyes has done it before.
At a 36-hole U.S. Amateur Championship qualifier held last Monday at Diablo CC, he posted a medalist score of 8-under 132. The second best score was a 142.
De Los Reyes also owned last year’s Alameda Commuters Championship at Chuck Corica GC, winning by 11 shots. His four-day total of 18-under 266 (68-67-64-67) tied the tournament record for low score, set by former NCGA amateur great and current PGA Tour member Matt Bettencourt in 2002.
–Jerry Stewart
