By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After beginning the final round of the Topeka Golf Association City Stroke Play championship a stroke down, 20-year-old Addison Alonzo vaulted into the lead early in Sunday's round and made that advantage stand up the rest of the day, closing with a 70 to take a two-stroke win at Lake Shawnee with a 54-hole total of 207.
Former Topeka West star Addison Alonzo took a two-stroke victory in the TGA City Stroke Play tournament Sunday after a final-round 70. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
TGA City Stroke Play champion Addison Alonzo receives a pat on the back from runner-up Dan Key (right) at the conclusion of Sunday's final round. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Alonzo, a former Topeka West standout and two-time national champion for Hutchinson Community College, said the key was sticking to his game plan from start to finish.
"You've got to stick to the plan because if you avoid the plan then it's probably not going to work,'' Alonzo said. "I told my caddie (Jesse Kent) before we came out here, 'If we're up we can't play safe because sometimes it goes wrong. We've just got to keep going and hit greens and fairways.' ''
Adam Head started the day with a one-stroke lead, but struggled to a 77 on Sunday to open the door for Alonzo. First-round leader Jason Buessing was also in the title mix before veteran Dan Key made a late run to shoot a 68 and finish second at 209.
"I was worried about Adam at first and then my caddie said, 'We have to shift our attention to (Buessing),' and then I was completely in my own mind and then Dan Key started coming and I didn't realize it. Going into the last hole (Kent) said, 'You're two strokes ahead going into the final hole and you've got to get it done.' ''
Alonzo did just that, sinking a short par putt to close out the victory.
Alonzo's win Sunday followed up his TGA Match Play title earlier in the summer and put him in position to challenge for the TGA Player of the Year award.
"I like match play because it's like a battle and I like the battle,'' said Alonzo, who will play in a U.S. Amateur qualifier on Monday. "It's more fun but I haven't won stroke play in years so this feels amazing.''
Key, a former club pro who coached Hayden to five state titles, was pleased with his runner-up finish in his first-ever City Stroke Play event.
"It was just a lot of fun to be playing competitive golf once again,'' Key said. "It was fun playing against all the young guys.''
Max Stucky-Halley closed with a 70 to finish third at 211 while Buessing and Shawnee Heights senior Alex Valdivia tied for fourth at 212 and Head finished sixth at 213.
TGA CITY STROKE PLAY TOURNAMENT
Final results
1. Addison Alonzo - 68-69-70 -- 207
2. Dan Key - 67-74-68 -- 209
3. Max Stucky-Halley - 72-69-70 -- 211
4. (tie) Jason Buessing - 66-74-72 -- 212
4. (tie) Alex Valdivia - 70-73-69 -- 212
6. Adam Head - 69-67-77 -- 213
7. (tie) Jeremiah Nelson - 72-70-72 -- 214
7. (tie) Andrew Poling - 73-71-70 -- 214
9. Ben Moser - 75-73-68 -- 216
10. Bryce Cowan - 70-73-74 -- 217
11. (tie) Jacob Diehl - 76-72-70 -- 218
11. (tie) Phil Frost - 74-71-73 -- 218
14. Kade Prentice - 73-73-73 -- 219
15. Hayden Beck - 75-78-67 -- 220
16. Lane Workman - 72-79-70 -- 221
17. Justice Valdivia - 81-74-70 -- 225
18. (tie) Jayson Duncan - 78-78-70 -- 226
18. (tie) Brian Walker - 71-77-78 -- 226
20. Blake Buessing - 70-79-78 -- 227
21. (tie) Jack Hillman - 75-74-79 -- 228
21. (tie) Mac Piles - 77-77-74 -- 228
21. (tie) Josah Packard - 76-77-75 -- 228
21. Patrick Golden - 74-81-73 -- 228
25. Lance Smith - 75-77-77 -- 229
26. Josh Maike - 81-75-76 -- 232
27. (tie) Zach Nuss - 79-76-78 -- 233
27. (tie) James Monson - 73-77-83 -- 233
27. (tie) Joey Conner - 81-76-76 -- 233
27. (tie) Justin Reamer - 75-83-75 -- 233
27. (tie) Kevin Matayka - 81-78-74 -- 233
32. Raub Kirkwood - 82-74-78 -- 234
33. Eric Kolean - 76-80-79 -- 235
34. KJ Boyle - 76-83-82 -- 241
35. TJ Peterson - 81-82-84 -- 247
36. Chris Bishop - 83-82-85 -- 250
37. Jeff Lewis - 80-95-78 -- 253
38. Jeff Quentin - 86-86-83 -- 255
39. Ryan Eldridge - 80-90-86 -- 256
40. Jason Mroz - 86-88-86 -- 260
41. Eddie Arrendondo -- 85-92-84 -- 261
42. TJ Swietek - 91-96-89 -- 276
