In a year dominated by negative news, a hugely positive and inspiring story unfolded over the weekend at the Santa Barbara Golf Club.
Thayer White, a San Marcos High School alumnus who’s made a remarkable comeback from a serious brain injury suffered in a vicious assault six years ago, won the Santa Barbara City Golf Championship in a dramatic two-hole playoff with former champion Brandon Gama on Sunday.
White made a 30-foot birdie putt on the par 3, 128-yard, second hole to beat Gama and earn his first City Championship.
“It’s super fun,” said the 26-year-old White, who was a basketball and golf standout at San Marcos High. “I enjoy competing, and it’s really fun to be in the town where I’m from and have a lot of support.
“This is going to be special, a memory I can have for decades and decades.”
White and Gama finished the regulation 36 holes at 3-under par 137 on the par-70 SBCG course. Defending champion Jack Perry of Santa Barbara was one stroke back at 2-under 138.
Gama, the 2008 champion and holder of the 54-hole tournament scoring record, had an opportunity to win his second title on the par-4 18th. Down a stroke, he reached the green on two and had a 14-foot putt for an eagle. He put a delicate touch on the downhill putt, but the ball curled the cup and he settled for a birdie.
“It just kind of stopped moving at the end and stayed out,” said Gama, who also was the runner-up in 2016. “I hit a really good putt.”
White parred the hole, sending the 61st annual championship into a playoff for the first time since 2001.
The title contenders parred No. 1 before White prevailed on the next hole.
White, who finished fifth at last year’s three-round, 54-hole event, which is traditionally held during Memorial Day weekend, said he felt relaxed playing in the final group.
“I got some nerves toward the end, especially in the playoff, but it was good nervousness,” he said. “It should be a positive nervousness because it’s excitement. It’s a rush.”
He described the back nine on Sunday as a back-and-forth battle with Gama, who led White by one stroke after the first round.
“I just made too many mistakes,” said Gama, who double bogeyed No. 16 and bogeyed No. 17. “You can’t make those kind of mistakes coming down the stretch of a tournament.
“Even though I still had a chance to win, which was amazing, you can’t be making those mistakes.”
Making things more dramatic Sunday was the absence of a leaderboard on the course to let the contenders know where they stood. Because of Santa Barbara County public health guidelines, only players were permitted on the course.
“We had no idea how the people in front of us were playing,” White remarked.
They didn’t know that Perry was right on their heels either.
Perry gave White a big hug as the champion walked back to the clubhouse after the playoff.
Brian Helton, the 2012 champion, had the lowest second-round score with a 4-under 66. He finished tied for sixth at 141.
White said he enjoyed playing with Gama, whom he’s known for several years.
“It’s really fun to come here and be a part of the community,” he said. “I can’t be more proud and happy with the results.”
White is fortunate to be alive. While a sophomore at UC Berkeley in 2014, he was hit in the head with a baseball bat by an intruder at a fraternity party in Berkeley. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and was hospitalized for 10 weeks, including two weeks in intensive care.
Two years later, his assailant pleaded no contest for assault with a deadly weapon after being charged with attempted murder in connection with the beating.
“I’m really happy for Thayer,” Gama said. “I know what he’s been through, and to be where he is right now and doing what he’s doing is pretty remarkable. I’m really proud of him.
“Today, he’s a champion.”
Santa Barbara City Championship
at par-70 Santa Barbara Golf Club
Final 36-Hole Scores
*Thayer White 67-70—137 (won on 2nd playoff hole)
Brandon Gama 66-71—137
Jack Perry 68-70—138
Satch Hermann 71-69—140
Bryan Saw 68-72—140
Brian Helton 75-66—141
Kurtis Rodriguez 74-67—141
Blake McGovern 72-70—142
Drew Miller 70-72—142
Jack Barber 68-74—142
Drew Kim 71-72—143
George Downing 70-73—143
Grady Smith. 70-73—143
Tongun Lako 69-74—143
Mason Mancasola 72-72—144
Ben Tumbel 72-73—145
James Bragger 75-71—146
Jonathan Chappell 74-72—146
Paul Otte 74-72—146
Alec Constantinides 73-73—146
Doug Hyland 73-73—146
Nate Park 77-70—147
Jonny Hogan 76-71—147
Kenneth O’Shea has 73-74—147
Robert Garske 72-74—147
Hudson Hatton 70-77—147
Isaac Stone 75-73—148
Blake Keesey 73-75—148
Cutter Ayres 72-76—148
Roy Kim 72-76—148
Tony Ralph 73-75—148
Jeff McNeil 72-76—148
Mickey Kirby 71-77—148
Brian Arnold 77-72—149
Brian Walker 77-72—149
Connor Nelson 75-74—149
Emiliano Rivera 75-74—149
Kelly Foy 71-78—149
Shams Jahangir-Ashad 75-75—150
Briggs Boss 75-75—150
Vedanth Gaitonde 77-74—151
James Tyler 77-74—151
Thomas Chung 76-75—151
Dave Aarons 76-75—151
Leo Metzger 75-76—151
Steven Escobar 74-77—151
Adrian Davis 74-77—151
Preston Gomersall 72-79—151
Nico Pollero 78-74—152
Jordan Scott 77-75—152
Ben Gould 75-77—152
Edward Susolik 74-78—152
Karma Lama 73-79—152
Louis Caron 79-74—153
Robert Kambourian 79-74—153
Michael Galsterer 77-76—153
Armand Ouellette 77-76—153
Adam Sides 76-77—153
Jared Votow 75-78—153
Bobby Schaeffer 75-78—153
Todd Doss 75-79—154
Eric Fernandez 77-78—155
Tim Heslin 77-79—156
Michael Montgomery 77-79—156
Ezra Allen 74-82—156
Nikolai Friedman 72-85—157
Brennan Burt 78-80—158
Ian Arcellana 77-82—159
Drew Jordan 77-82—159
Chase Blossom 76-83—159
Pe’a Hill 78-82—160
Billy Mandarino 80-81—161
Kyle Wesolowski 77-84—161
Preston Foy 88-74—162
Michael Feher 83-79—162
Ron Siskey 82-80—162
Daniel Robledo 83-80—163
Tanner Gillotti 80-83—163
Steven Trider 78-85—163
Heather McGinnis 80-84—164
Eric Grotjahn 79-85—164
Brian Pearson 78-86—164
Richard Nielsen 80-85—165
Alex Bollinger 85-85—170
Jim Alzina 85-87—172
Eric Bell 84-88—172
Jonathan Medina 86-87—173
Will Borgers 94-90—184
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.