April 21 and 22, 2012
Ojai native Jeff Coburn returned home in grand fashion, winning his third career Ojai City Championship by firing a 36-hole score of 4-under 140. It earned Coburn a three-stroke victory over Gabe Armendariz.
"It always helps to know a course, but maybe even more so here at Soule Park because there are so many holes where you don't want to be above the hole and because the greens are so undulating," said Coburn, who grew up playing at Soule as a member of the Nordhoff High School golf team in the late 1990s.
Head Soule Park Golf Professional Chris Harvey, who resurrected the tournament after a six-year hiatus, presented Coburn the first-place trophy Sunday as wife Larissa and 5-month old daughter McKenna looked on. Also on hand to bask in Coburn's win were his father Stan, a former Ojai City Seniors winner, and younger brother Tim, who also competed in the tournament, shooting 161 over the two days but ending his tournament with an eagle on 18.
"Having a baby has been great, but I've only actually played maybe one time the past couple months," Coburn said. "Fortunately, I'm able to get out and practice, and that seemed to sustain me."
Coburn won this tournament in 2000 and 2002 while a student-athlete at the University of California, Irvine. He came out firing on Saturday, making seven birdies to finish Day 1 tied for first at 69 with former Simi Valley High standout Mark Modglin.
Modglin, who also has a new daughter at home, fell off the pace Sunday, but Cal State Long Beach standout J.J. Holen, who played high school golf at West Ranch High in Valencia, stayed close by shooting par for the second straight day.
In addition, Armendariz and Ed Susolik were making noise in the group just ahead of Coburn, eventually firing a 69 and 70, respectively.
Armendariz, a Tustin resident who ironically plays as Coburn's partner in the annual SCGA Two-Ball Championship, pulled to within one stroke of his partner with a birdie on the par-5 11th.
Coburn responded with an eagle, bombing a drive and then nestling his approach three feet from the hole as Armendariz watched from the 12th tee.
"I was playing pretty well, but when I saw him eagle that, I sort of knew how things were going to come out," Armendariz said.
Holen and Susolik finished tied for third at 144, followed by Modglin (146).
Eric Weiss of Phoenix, AZ, posted the low round Sunday, a 68, and finished tied for sixth with Andy Stansfield. The Woodland Hlls resident was just the fourth player to break par the second day. Jayson Payne of Oxnard finished eighth at 149.
Kirk Crawford, who finished at 165, had the shot of the tournament, recording a rare albatross on the par-5 18th.
