Matthew Sutherland from Sacramento, California, has had an unforgettable month. Following his impressive performance, reaching the round of 16 at the 123rd U.S. Amateur in Cherry Hills, Colorado, he has now added another feather to his cap by clinching the 2023 California State Fair Championship.
During the three-day championship, Sutherland showcased his golfing prowess by finishing an astonishing 18-under, securing victory by a comfortable six-shot margin over Baron Szeto of Morago, California, who concluded with a respectable 12-under.
“I’ve spent a lot of time playing at Haggin Oaks and have participated in numerous junior golf events there,” remarked Sutherland. “This familiarity with the course gave me a sense of comfort, and my knowledge of the pin placements certainly played to my advantage. I struck the ball cleanly, and my precision on the greens remained consistent throughout the week.”
Sutherland began the final day with a three-shot lead, and his impressive 5-under 67 in the last round allowed him to double that advantage.
“I’m not usually one to obsessively monitor leaderboards, but having recently competed in match play at the U.S. Amateur, I felt at ease focusing solely on my own game,” Sutherland shared. “Competitive golf always demands your best, and I reached a point where I felt truly in my element.”
His path to victory included rounds of 67-64-67, ultimately culminating in an outstanding 18-under total.
Notably, he matched his personal best tournament score with a sensational second-round 64, but it was the 8-under performance that set a new record. During that round, Sutherland remained bogey-free and managed an eagle along with six birdies. His hot start, going 4-under through the first four holes, set the tone for a remarkable day, and he closed it out with birdies on Holes No. 17 and 18.
“My ball striking has been exceptionally consistent lately, and I’ve been able to translate that into impressive scores,” Sutherland explained. “This has allowed me to maintain momentum throughout my rounds.”
Sutherland also added, “I’ve been sinking some lengthy putts, which has been a key factor in my recent success.”
Completing the top ranks of the tournament, Costas Panay from Redmond, Washington, and Carlos Astiazaran from Tucson, Arizona, both finished tied for third place at 11-under. Meanwhile, Chris Bettencourt of Clovis, California, Jack Deaner of Carmichael, California, and Nick Woo of Novato, California, shared the fifth spot with 10-under performances.
View all of the California State Fair results HERE
