Xander Schauffele wins 103rd California Amateur

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Always a bridesmaid but never a bride. That was the story of Xander Schauffele's amateur golf career the past few years, as the San Diego State rising senior has arguably been the most dominant Southern Californian amateur golfer but had yet to put his name on a trophy. His resume was as follows:

• 2012 SCGA Amateur Champion Runner-Up

• 2013 California Amateur Champion Medalist

• 2013 SCGA Amateur Champion Runner-Up

• 2013 U.S. Amateur - Rd. of 16

But that all changed Saturday, when Schauffele finally earned what he had long deserved. In a final match that will go down as one of the best in California Amateur Championship history, Schauffele edged Beau Hossler 2 up in a 36-hole affair to earn the Championship's 103rd title.

"I'm really excited right now," said Schauffele. "I really feel like I earned this one."

And that he did. After a somewhat average first 18 holes of play, which left Schauffele 1 up, he and Hossler put on one of the finest displays of golf you'll ever see. Matching each other shot for shot on Omni La Costa Resort & Spa's Champions Course, the two collegiate stars played the first 17 holes of the afternoon round in 7-under-par... each. Schauffele would finish his final round with an 8-under-par 64.

"We were both playing so well, it just felt like we were matching each other shot for shot," said Schauffele.

And they were. For the first 24 holes of the match, no one had more than a 1 up lead. In fact, Schauffele didn't hold a lead until the 18th hole of the match, but it was one he never relinquished.

After playing a marathon 43 holes the day before, with both his quarterfinal and semifinals matches going into extra holes, Hossler nearly pushed the final to extra holes as well. Down two holes to Schauffele with seven holes to play, it looked like the title may have been decided when Hossler missed the green on the par 3, 12th hole (30th hole of the match). Schauffele had a birdie putt, while Hossler found himself with a tough chip shot attempt. With his group of about 35 fans surrounding him, Hossler nailed the chip shot, bringing the match to within one and putting the pressure back on Schauffele.

But Hossler wasn't done. On the par 3, 16th hole, he canned a 25-footer from the fringe to earn his seventh birdie of the round. With Hossler's fans exploding in cheer, Schauffele needed to remain focused on his own eight-footer or the match would be all square. With the air still buzzing from Hossler's incredible make, Schauffele looked cool, calm and collected as he matched Hossler's birdie with one of his own. Hossler would have one more attempt to tie the match on its 35th hole, but his birdie putt missed just wide of the cup. Schauffele would win the final hole after Hossler's tee shot found water.

"I was just trying to remain focused on each shot," said Schauffele. "Some of the people following me started to get a little too pumped up when Beau's tee shot went in the water on 18, congratulating me and stuff, but I didn't want to get too ahead of himself."

When the two competitors reached the green and Hossler conceded the hole, Schauffele finally smiled, with 20 of his closest friends and family waiting in line to give him a hug.

For Schauffele, the California Amateur win represents the biggest title in his young career, and one well earned. The California Amateur began with a field of 156-players who went through two days of stroke play on both the Champions and Legends Courses, before the top 32 qualified for match play. The two finalists played eight rounds of golf in the event's six-day stretch. With the win, Schauffele's name joins a trophy that already lists winners Jason Gore, Charlie Wi, Mark O'Meara, John Cook and Ken Venturi.

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Past Winners