Drama in the Drizzle: Recap of the APT SoCal Victoria Club Tournament 

RIVERSIDE, CA — On Monday, July 13th, the Amateur Players Tour of Southern California converged on the historic and breathtaking Victoria Club in Riverside. Known for its immaculate golf course and stunning, classic clubhouse, the venue provided a magnificent backdrop for a day that tested both the skill and resolve of the field. Players battled not just the demanding layout, but also shifting weather conditions as an overcast sky brought intermittent rain showers off and on throughout the day. 

Despite the damp conditions, the competition remained red-hot across all five flights, featuring dramatic finishes, clutch birdies, and a high-stakes playoff. 

Division 1: Renda Masters the Elements 

In Division 1, Berkecem Renda (Fullerton, CA) put on a ball-striking clinic despite the slick conditions. Navigating the undulating greens of Victoria Club with precision, Renda carded an impressive, steady round of 72 (E) to distance himself from the field and claim the Division 1 trophy.  Michael Mabashov (Riverside, CA) and Patrick Chute (Lake Sherwood, CA) tied for second with 77’s.  

Division 2: Iriarte Edges Out Nakunz 

Division 2 turned into a classic down-the-stretch duel between two in-form players. Mark Iriarte managed to string together vital pars late in his round and a birdie to sign for a gritty 77. The slim margin was just enough to slip past Mike Nakunz, who pushed Iriarte until the very last cup, finishing a single stroke back with a stellar 78.  Joey Camarata and Andres Viramontes both from (Murrieta, CA) tied for 3^rd with 80’s.  

Division 3: Kamp’s 18th-Hole Heroics for the Big Payout 

With the largest purse of the day on the line—boasting a total payout of over $1,200—the tension in Division 3 was palpable. It all came down to the par-4 18th hole. Standing on the final tee, Will Kamp (Los Angeles, CA) knew he needed something special to separate himself from a crowded leaderboard. He delivered in spectacular fashion, draining a dramatic birdie on the 18th to card a 77. The clutch finish allowed Kamp to edge out Andrew Kim and Zack Jellsey, who both finished tied for second with 78. For his final-hole heroics, Kamp walked away with the champion’s trophy and the $520 first-place prize.  Blake Moorman (Fallbrook, CA) was fourth with an 80, Chris Hall (Castaic, CA) 5^th with an 81, and Gary Lam (Ontario, CA) Nico Romero, (Fullerton, CA) tied for 6^th.  All of these golfers got in the money on this one!  

**Special mention to Diego Soto (Riverside, CA). Diego shot the lowest round of the day in all divisions with a -1 71 score!  This was his best competition round, and after some serious health issues had his amazing moment.  Unfortunately, Diego was not yet a validated player with 6 rounds on our tour and could not be awarded the win in Division 3 with a Division 1 score.  We are happy for his recovery, and he has apparently improved his golf game tremendously!  

Division 4: Armendariz Makes a Dominant Return 

The story of Division 4 was the highly anticipated return of Saul Armendariz to the tour. If there was any competitive rust, Armendariz shook it off immediately. Putting together one of the most dominant performances of the entire tournament, he carded an exceptional round of 83, outpacing his nearest competitor by a staggering 7 shots to cruise to a victory.  Manny Viega (Lake Arrowhead, CA) was second with a 90.  We wish Manny the best as he moves to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and will play in that chapter starting next season.   

Division 5: Cavanaugh Outlasts Moore in Playoff Drama 

The most dramatic finish of the afternoon belonged to Division 5. After 18 holes of grueling tournament golf, Eddy Moore and David Cavanaugh found themselves deadlocked at the top after both fired rounds of 92, forcing a sudden-death playoff. 

Stepping onto the first playoff hole under heavy gray skies, pressure mounted. Moore unfortunately, pulled his drive off the tee, and unable to find his ball, was forced to re-tee. Seizing the opening, Cavanaugh chipped 3 times to get on the green in 4.  Moore ended up on the green in 5 and had a 20-foot putt to put pressure on Cavanaugh.  It just missed, and Cavanaugh was able to 2 putt from 10 feet and take the win with a 6.  Tommy Weatherby (Sun City, CA) was one shot back in third with a 93.  Good playing boys.  

Mid Am Net: Kim Avenges Flight Loss in Card-Off 

Though Andrew Kim narrowly missed out on the Division 3 gross crown, he found redemption in the Mid Am Net contest. Both Kim and Will Kamp turned in spectacular net scorecards, matching each other blow-for-blow to shoot a blistering net 66 (-6). The tie required a scorecard tiebreaker, where Kim ultimately prevailed over Kamp to capture the Mid Am Net title.  Zack Jellsey and Gary Lam, finished third and fourth.  

Senior Net:  Close contest in Senior Net. 

Saul Armendariz (Granada Hills, CA), with his great round in division 4, also won the Senior Net contest with a 2 under 70 score.  Eddy Moore (Menifee, CA) took second with a 74.  Kent Muraoka (Azusa, CA) and Dave Davidson (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) tied for third with 75’s  

Special Thanks 

Thank you to the staff and membership at Victoria Club for hosting the Amateur Players Tour of Southern California. Despite the rain showers, the course conditions were elite, and the hospitality was amazing.  

Next Up: The tour rolls on to The Open @ Los Verdes on July 25th. Registration is filling fast—be sure to secure your spot!