A par on the last was good enough for a one shot victory for the Warthen brothers in the 2016 SCGA Four-Ball Championship at La Purisima GC. Beginning the day trailing by a single stroke, the boys were in very good position to make a run for the title. Heading into the final round knowing that they were playing well, coming off of back-to-back 2-man team tournament victories, they were quietly confident in their odds of becoming the champions.
Beginning strong out of the gates with a birdie on the first while tying the lead, the boys were off and running and they never looked back. Birdies followed on 6, 7, and 9 giving them a three shot lead heading into the final nine holes, in great position to bring home the crystal. Their playing competitors birdied 11 and 12 but J.R. and Justo also birdied 12 and 13 to maintain a three shot lead with five to play. Suddenly, the lead nearly evaporated when their competitors birdied 14 and the brothers bogeyed 15, cutting the lead to one stroke with three to play.
The closing stretch at La Purisima GC is notoriously difficult and neither team was able to make a birdie on 16 or 17 which set the stage for a drama filled finishing hole. All four players striped their drives down the middle of the 18th fairway but only one player from each team was able to find the putting surface on their approach shots. The brothers were closer to the hole than their competitors who had the honor of putting first with the opportunity to make birdie and force J.R and Justo to do the same in order to become victorious.
That is where the drama came to a conclusion when their competitors failed to convert which allowed the boys a 2-putt par and their first SCGA title. This was a big win for the brothers, SCGA events are some of the best that the state of California has to offer and today's victory has most definitely cemented the name Warthen in the ranks of Southern California Amateur golf.
The boys are overjoyed by the support from their mom Merilee, dad Rickster, J.R.'s fiancé Jillian, and their awesome friend Andrew for walking around the course to cheer them on! Thank you for visiting jrwarthen.com. Check back soon for the latest updates! All the Best and God Bless!