Nakasawa one step closer at State Am

SCOTTSDALE - Former Yuma Catholic golfer Bentley Nakasawa pulled away on the back nine to come out with an opening-round match play victory at the 84th Arizona Amateur Championship on Wednesday in Scottsdale at Troon Country Club.

R.J. Wood, a two-time 2A state individual champion at YC, lost to Mesa's Robbie Konagis, 3 and 1.

Nakasawa birdied six holes to defeat Anthem's Eric Rustand 3 and 1 and advances to the round of 32. He will tee off at 7:32 a.m. today against Anthem's Gary Quinn, the No. 4 seed in the tournament.

"At first I thought it was going to be really tight, but then I started making birdies and I felt pretty comfortable out there," Nakasawa said.

Nakasawa went ahead by four holes after 13. After a Nakasawa bogey and a Rustand birdie on the next two holes, the lead was cut to two.

"I had a cushion," Nakasawa said. "I started to get a little tight and and get a little nervous."

But Nakasawa came through with a clutch birdie on the 17th hole to clinch the victory.

Winners in the morning will head back on the course in the afternoon to complete the third round of match play and cut the field down to eight golfers.

Other golfers remaining in the tournament include medalist Brandon Kelly as well as the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. Former NFL quarterback Tim Rattay also survived the first round of match play, beating Brad Nicolson 3 and 2.