Weaver puts it in another gear

Clovis West senior sets scoring mark as youngest winner.

Published online on Monday, May. 25, 2009

Michael Weaver may not be old enough to appreciate history. But Monday's final round of the Fresno City Amateur proved he sure knows how to make it.

The 18-year-old not only became the youngest City Am champion in the event's 82-year history, he did so with record-setting panache.

Weaver shot a 5-under 67 at Riverside Golf Course to finish at 15-under 201, establishing a scoring mark for the 54-hole tournament.

The Clovis West High senior finished five shots ahead of Jonathan Keane (10-under 206), who began the final round one stroke behind Weaver, and six shots clear of Ryan Higton (8-under 208). Nathan Pistacchio (7-under 209) was fourth and Danny Paniccia (6-under 210) fifth.

While thrilled to win the City Am, Weaver tried to downplay becoming its youngest champion.

"It's not the most important thing, to be honest," Weaver said. "It's a cool feeling, but it's not a huge deal that I'm the youngest guy ever to win it."

Weaver, who turned 18 on April 12, also became the only person to win the City Am and Len Ross Fresno City Junior Amateur in the same year.

This time, however, the competition wasn't high school kids but college seniors like playing partners Keane (Santa Clara) and Pistacchio (UC Davis).

And when Keane chipped in from the bunker for eagle on the par-5 No. 9 to take a three-shot lead, Weaver's victory was anything but assured.

"At the turn Jon looked like he was going to shoot way low, so I figured I'd have to play well just to have a chance," Weaver said.

Play well, he did. Weaver immediately birded No. 10 and Keane made bogey for a two-shot swing. Weaver then pulled even on No. 12 by sinking a five-foot putt for birdie.

While Weaver made par on No. 13, Keane chunked his second shot on the par-4 hole short of the green in the rough, drove his third over the green and three-putted from the fringe for double bogey.

The 14th, a 542-yard par-5, provided another two-shot swing for Weaver, but this time serendipity stepped in.

Weaver hit his tee shot and immediately remarked that it hit a tree. But when he and his father/caddy Bill arrived at the ball, they found it safely nestled in the fairway -- and some 50 yards closer to the hole than Keane's. (Bill Weaver said he scoped the drive at 341 yards.)

"If you're going to win, sometimes you have to have lucky breaks," said a grinning Weaver, "and I'll take them."

The Cal signee took advantage of his good fortune by pulling out his 6-iron and landing the ball on the green 20 feet from the pin. His ensuing birdie -- and a Keane bogey -- made it a four-shot lead with four to play.

Weaver's three-day total of 201 eclipsed Jonathan Echols' tournament record by three strokes. Echols shot his 12-under 204 in 2001.

"When you shoot three rounds under par, you think you're going to win and not lose by five shots," Keane said. "That's how well Michael was playing. What are you going to do?"