Coyote Creek Valley Classic Recap
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Morgan Hill, CA – The GOLF AM Tour’s Bay Area section had a local tournament at the popular Coyote Creek Golf Club on Saturday on the facility’s Valley Course. The event marked back-to-back Jack Nicklaus signature courses on the Bay Area circuit (Ruby Hill on the 13th), which is fitting this time of year as “The Golden Bear” is known for designing courses that drain very well in the winter. A stereotypical Morgan Hill foggy morning gave way to a gorgeous day with very little wind on Saturday, which made the course very scorable. Here were your top finishers from a beautiful January day at Coyote:
Dan Corral, out of San Bruno, was your winner in the Championship flight and tournament medalist on Saturday. Corral posted a phenomenal round of (-1) 71, which included a blemish-free inward nine of three-under-par (32), to take the flight by one over Eric Evans and Chris Holland (72s). The W was Corral’s first of the season and the 175 points earned on the day now gives him a 20 point lead in the Championship flight points standings.
One of the three playoffs on the day commenced in the Palmer flight on Saturday, as Lyle Covino, Michael Van Swol and John Nora all came in at (+6) 78 after 18 holes. Lyle Covino, out of Brisbane, was able to hold off Van Swol and Nora on third playoff hole to secure his first victory of the 2019-2020 season. The reigning Palmer flight Player of the Year now sits in fourth place in the standings after the big win on Saturday.
Joseph Herold, out of Templeton, was your champion in the Hogan flight on Saturday. Herold posted a steady round of (+10) 82 to win the flight by three strokes over Shawn Schiffer and Durgesh Kotwal (85s). Saturday was Herold’s first W of the new season and he is now in a tie for sixth place in the Hogan flight standings after earning 145 points for Saturday’s performance.
Another playoff was needed to decide a champion in the Senior Hogan flight on Saturday as Patrick Wilson and Gerald Yago both carded rounds of (+6) 78. Patrick Wilson, out of Fresno, was able to take it on the first extra hole with a par to grab his first win of the 2019-2020 season. It’s also worth noting that Wilson made eight pars and a single bogey on his back nine to get into the playoff. Pretty clutch finish from Wilson, who is now in fifth place in the Central CA Senior Hogan flight standings.
The Sarazen flight held the third and final playoff of the day between Julian Noh and Matt Schelegle after they both came in tied at (+10) 82. Julian Noh, out of Emeryville, was able to hold off Schelegle (who won at Ruby Hill) and win it on the second playoff hole. Saturday’s W was Noh’s second of the season and he now has an incredible 840 points already to lead the Sarazen flight standings. He will look to keep the good times rolling on Monday at Del Paso CC.
Chris Willing, out of Gardnerville, NV, was your champion in the Jones flight on Saturday. Willing posted, in classic Chris Willing form, a very steady round of (+14) 86 to win the flight by two shots over recently hot Sam Rowe (88). Willing could be in for a promotion soon, but his consistency and familiarity with winning will certainly serve him well in any flight he plays in. He’s now one-for-one on the season heading into what will likely be a busy spring and summer for the Nevada resident.
The widest margin of victory came in the Snead flight on Saturday as Mill Valley’s Michael Alley posted a great round of (+17) 89 to win the flight by six shots over runner-up finisher Nick Vicari (95). This was the first win of the season for Alley, which may just give the 2018-2019 Senior Snead Player of the Year the momentum he needs to reach or exceed his win total from last season (four). He is now in second place in the Senior Snead flight standings after Saturday’s win.
For full field scores and photos please visit www.gcamtour.com > Schedule > Local > Bay Area > Coyote Creek Valley Classic
Top Finishers & Payouts
Championship Flight
71 – Dan Corral ($150 in gift cards + Award)
72 – Eric Evans ($50 in gift cards)
72 – Chris Holland ($50 in gift cards)
Palmer Flight
78 – Lyle Covino ($150 in gift cards + Award)*
78 – Michael Van Swol ($50 in gift cards)
78 – John C Nora ($50 in gift cards)
*Won in Playoff
Hogan Flight
82 – Joseph Herold ($125 in gift cards + Award)
85 – Shawn Schiffer ($50 in gift cards)
85 – Durgesh Kotwal ($50 in gift cards)
Senior Hogan Flight
78 – Patrick Wilson ($125 in gift cards + Award)*
78 – Gerald Yago ($75 in gift cards)
79 – Chris Mateo ($25 in gift cards)
*Won in Playoff
Sarazen Flight
82 – Julian Noh ($150 in gift cards + Award)*
82 – Matt Schelegle ($100 in gift cards)
83 – Dylan Schelegle ($50 in gift cards)
84 – Jessie James ($25 in gift cards)
*Won in Playoff
Jones Flight
86 – Chris Willing ($100 in gift cards + Award)
88 – Sam Rowe ($25 in gift cards)
Snead Flight
89 – Michael Alley ($125 in gift cards + Award)
95 – Nick Vicari ($50 in gift cards)
98 – Henry Young ($25 in gift cards)
Thanks again for coming out and playing! We hope to see you at the next one!!
Dan Cacho
dcacho@gcamtour.com
707-567-7700