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Pelletier Wins 2023 West Valley Amateur; Wayment and Blau Win Senior, Legends Divisions
WADDELL – In a tournament that was neck-and-neck almost all the way through, it took a two-hole playoff for Ryan Pelletier (-4) to secure the 2023 West Valley Amateur Championship.
“I’m a pretty straight hitter, so this place is awesome for me where I can hit driver,” Pelletier said. “I don’t have to worry about going in the desert and I kind of had two pretty boring days where I hit a ton of greens both days, didn’t make a lot but I tried to keep it as stress free as possible.”
As the lead groups made the turn on Saturday, the top of the leaderboard was still bottlenecked with four players tied for the lead. The biggest threat to Pelletier’s championship was Abe Candelaria, who forced the playoff with a second round 67. On the second playoff hole, Pelletier and Candelaria each shot out of the same greenside bunker, but Pelletier’s shot landed just a couple feet from the pin.
The Senior Division saw Brad Wayment (-6) take the title, holding off Tucson’s Scott Smith (-4). In the Legends Division, no one came close to Tim Blau’s masterful, round two performance. Highlighted by an eagle on the 13th hole and a clean sheet, the Division’s reigning Player of the Year fired a 65 on day two to secure another AGA Championship.