TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

And the winner is......Bhavik Patel. The Pro Shop Golf "Performance of the Year" award, presented by The Californian's weekly online "Tee to Green" golf column, once again goes to the current No.1 player for Fresno State. Only this time, it was a super tough decision to award Patel for the third time in the four- year history of the award.

Patel won for his victory in the 100th California State Amateur in June at historic Olympic Club in San Francisco, but it was a difficult decision as Justin Pitts' remarkable round of 57 at Foss-Kern River just couldn't be overlooked.

"Both are extraordinary accomplishments," said Keith Perkins of Pro Shop Golf. "But you have to give it to Patel because it was over a series of days and matches against the best players from all over California. Justin's round in itself is one that may never be matched again, but no local player had ever won a state amateur."

Besides Patel and Pitts, the other finalists included Manav Shah's runner-up finish in the Southern California Golf Association's Amateur Championship and wins in our local County Amateur's by Meghan Shain and Scott LaBare.

Patel won the first "Performance of the Year" award in 2008 for his record-tying score in winning the Men's Kern County Amateur and won again in 2009 for his run to the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur. Last year, John Balfanz won for his record-tying fourth Men's Kern County Am title, his last as he has since turned professional.

Patel's win almost never got past the 36- hole stroke play qualifying to see who would make the final 32 for match-play. He was 5-over-par through 16 holes in the opening round, but birdied his final two holes to finish at 3-over.

He rebounded with a 3-under 69 for an even-par total of 144 that placed him in the 21st qualifying position.

Patel beat 12th seeded Kevin Dougherty of Murietta 2 and 1 in his opening match, then polished off 5th-seeded Pace Johnson from Fresno in the second round, 4 and 2.

In the quarterfinals, Patel ousted 20th seeded Tain Lee from San Juan Capistrano 4 and 3 to reach the semifinals against one of Northern California's all-time top amateur players, Randy Haag of Danville. But a 3 and 1 win sent Patel into the finals against Kevin Wentworth of Arnold.

Patel got off to a hot start in the finals match. After four halved holes, Patel won the 5th-7th holes for a 3-up lead and Wentworth never got closer than 2-down. The match lasted 30 holes, with Patel winning 8 and 6.

The win gave Patel a 10-year exemption to play in both the California State Amateur and the SCGA Amateur, but Patel will probably turn pro shortly after his senior year at FSU this coming June.

After the win, Patel told Chronicle Staff Writer Ron Kroichick that the win was his "biggest ever" and after being told that his name would be amongst former winners like Ken Venturi, Johnny Miller and Mark O'Meara, Patel replied, "This is huge!"

Huge indeed as his California Amateur triumph will now forever be the benchmark for future local amateurs participating in California's most prestigious amateur golf tournament and it's the best local performance for 2011!

Chip Shots

Just a reminder to keep sending all of the golf information to my email at rgautney@bak.rr.com. Whether it be one of your own accomplishments or that of someone you know, the readers won't know about it if it doesn't make it into print. Also, keep sending in information about upcoming golf tournaments, holes-in-one and any kind of golf news you think people might like to read about.