A 2-under-par for Leo Metzger on the final day Monday of the Santa Barbara City Championship was enough for the San Marcos High School senior to secure back-to-back titles at the annual tournament held at the Santa Barbara Golf Club.
Metzger, an 18-year-old who will be playing college golf at UC Davis beginning this fall, is only the fifth repeat winner since 1990.
He did it with a three-round 8-under 202, four strokes better than a trio at 4-under 206 — Satch Herrmann from Soule Park GC, Price Ferchill of Acushnet GC, Lako Losarah of Mountain Meadows GC.
The last person to repeat at the tournament was UCSB’s Brett Silvernail in 2013 and 2014.
“This is pretty special,” Metzger said. “The first one last year, I’ve been dreaming of winning this tournament for so long and to finally get it done felt really good, especially with my brother (Sam) on the bag.
“To be able to defend it this year, especially before I go to college, it’s very special. I have been playing this course since I was three years old. My house is two minutes away and just to win my hometown tournament again is really cool.”
Metzger’s best day was Sunday, with a 4-under 66 performance.
He was particularly proud of his ability to show consistency birdying the fifth hole.
“Then today, I birdied 10 and 11, after making really good pars on 7, 8, 9, so that sort of stretch of five holes really put me in a good position,” Metzger said.
He also credited his girlfriend, Kaci, who also acted as his caddy this tournament.
“It’s always more of a marathon than a sprint with this tournament,” he said. “It’s a lot of golf, 54 holes, so even after the first round lead was six under and I was four back, I still felt pretty good about where I was with two rounds left.
“Definitely got a little heated at a few points, but my caddy, it’s my girlfriend, and she did an awesome job out there. Just keeping me calm, and huge props to her.”
Justin Hight, head golf professional at the SBGC, said Metzger’s “course game fits for a lot of places he plays at.
“And having a repeat winner, it doesn’t happen that often here, so this is special. It’s a big win for all of us” he said.
Overall, 11 golfers finished par or better for the tournament.
Hight added that the prestigious tournament is definitely a “community benefit.”
“This event is always a very popular event. We have about 180 players for the city championship over a three day tournament, so the support that we get not only from the family members, but also the people that wish to come and just watch is incredible,” he said.
Santa Barbara City Golf Championship
Leaders
1 Leo Metzger, Sandpiper GC — 68-66-68–202, -8
2 Satch Herrmann, Soule Park GC — 70-70-66 — 206, -4
3 Price Ferchill, Acushnet Golf Club — 70-67-69 — 206, -4
4 Lako Losarah, Mountain Meadows GC — 68-68-70—206, -4
5 Johnny Brandt, Griffith Park GC — 71-64-73 — 208, -2
6 Cooper Groshart, Monarch Dunes GC — 69-68-71 — 208, -2
7 Shams Jahangir-Arshad, Santa Barbara GC — 70-67-72 — 209, -1
8 Brett Patton, Sandpiper GC — 71-68-70 — 209, -1
9 Alec Constantinides, Santa Barbara GC —70-65-74 — 209, -1
10 Ryan Gay, Oakhurst CC — 64-73-72 — 209, -1
11 Murphy Scott, EClub North Bay — 70-67-73 — 210, even
12 Kethan Reddy, Balboa Park GC — 67-74-70 — 211, +1
13 Mitch Martin, San Luis Obispo CC — 68-69-74 — 211, +1
14 Mickey Kirby, Santa Barbara GC — 69-71-72 — 212, +2
15 Shane Lebow — 73-68-71 — 212, +2
16 Ben Phipps, Roosevelt GC — 73-69-70 — 212, +2
17 Connor McManigal, Santa Barbara GC — 68-70-75 — 213, +3
18 Brycen Wagner — 71-70-72 — 213, +3
19 Teddy Vigna, Sandpiper GC — 70-70-74 — 214, +4
20 Drew Miller, Los Robles GC — 72-67-75 — 214, +4
21 Jeffrey Forster, Sandpiper GC — 70-74-71 — 215, +5
22 Zachary Steinberger, Glen Annie GC — 72-72-71 — 215, +5