Bakersfield’s Bhavik Patel went wire-to-wire to win the 2017 Motor City Bakersfield Open on Friday at Bakersfield Country Club.
Patel finished the three-day tournament six strokes better than runner-up Dylan Crowley. Patel, a graduate of Bakersfield High and Fresno State, was 16-under for the tournament, which is part of the Golden State Tour. Playing on a home course, Patel opened the tournament with a dominating 63 on Wednesday and followed that with rounds of 68 and 69 for the victory.
With breezy, cool and later rainy conditions, Patel’s 69 ended up being one of the best rounds of the day among the 25 players competing on the final day.
Bakersfield’s Manav Shah finished in seventh place with a three-day total of 210 — 10 shots back of Patel. Amateur Stephen Hale, also of Bakersfield, finished tied for 13th at three-under for the tournament.
Patel finished the tournament with 18 birdies and 31 pars. On his first day of competition, the 26-year-old finished with an eagle, seven birdies and 10 pars for 63. He earned $7,500 for his work, while Shah earned $2,000.
The tournament was sponsored by Motor City GMC/Buick/Lexus and ESPN Bakersfield 1230 and 98.1 FM.
