San Diego native Caden Fioroni claimed the biggest amateur golf prize in the Golden State.
Fioroni, the No.12 seed, defeated No. 18 Torey Edwards, 3 and 2, in the 36-hole match play final to win the 113th California Amateur Championship at Sherwood Country Club. It's the second state title for Fioroni, who played last season at University of Las Vegas. In 2019, he won the CIF Boys' High School State Individual title. As a bonus, the win also gave Fioroni an automatic exemption into this year's U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.
Fiorini joins the likes of Xander Schauffele (2014), Mark O'Meara (1979) and Johnny Miller (1968) as California Amateur champions.
“It feels good. I’ve always wanted to become a California Amateur champion and it’s pretty sweet to call myself that now,” Fioroni said. “This tournament has been great. It helped me find my confidence again. It was lost for a little bit.”
The big difference for Fiorini, who was the 2022 Mountain West Golfer of the Year, was a solid morning round. In the first 18 holes of the 36-hole final, Fiorini built a 4-up lead after making seven birdies and just one bogey. Helping Fiorini was red-hot iron play, as he'd hit every green in regulation during the round.
In the afternoon round, Fiorini kept the pedal to the metal, birdying holes Nos. 19 and 23 to build a commanding 6-up lead. Edwards, a 42-year-old former professional who regained his amateur status and was the SCGA Player of the Year in 2020, cut the gap to 3-up with wins on holes Nos. 24, 26 and 27 but could never get any closer.
In the semifinals Fiorini had just squeaked past No.8 Logan Kim, 1-up. In that match, neither Fiorini nor Kim ever held more than a 2-up lead.
In his three matches prior to the semis, Fiorini never had to go farther than the 15th hole, winning all of those prior matches by identical scores of 4 and 3.
Pepperdine University junior Brady Siravo was the stroke play qualifying medalist after finishing with a two-day total of 12-under 132.