Anaheim, California native records nine final-round birdies to win the second of three APGA Farmers Insurance® Fall Series events
LONG BEACH, California – After compiling five top-five finishes and placing runner-up twice during his first year on the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour in 2026, David Kim broke through and took home his first APGA title at the APGA at El Dorado, overcoming a four-shot deficit entering Wednesday’s final round.
The 2017 Big West Conference Player of the Year at U.C. Irvine opened Wednesday’s play by making birdies on the first four holes, and six of the initial seven, at El Dorado Park Golf Course. Kim, an Anaheim, California native, took the lead for the first time after first-round leader David Gazzolo, of Riverside, California, bogeyed the sixth hole.
“It has been a journey, and I have had my share of close finishes,” said Kim, who finished the 36-hole event at 14-under-par 130 (66-64). “It feels good to get the job done, and I hope to stack some more wins on top of this one.”
A back-and-forth battle of players seeking their first professional victory saw Kim tie for the lead a second time when he tallied a birdie at the 14th hole to match Gazzolo at 12-under.
After both golfers recorded pars on Nos. 15 and 16, Kim took the outright lead with a birdie on the par-3 17th hole. The two-time All-Big West Conference standout then finished the day in style with a birdie on the 18th hole to win by two shots.
“Being behind to start the day helped because I was four back entering the final round,” Kim said. “I knew I had to go for it and put my foot on the gas pedal. I made a few putts early, got off to a hot start, and just rode it from there.”
Kim earned a $10,000 prize for winning the APGA at El Dorado, the 12th of 15 tournaments on the 2026 APGA Tour schedule.
“This is such a great tournament to win,” said Kim, who estimated he has played El Dorado Park Golf Course hundreds of times. “The APGA Tour allows us to continually improve our game. No matter where you’re at, you’ve got to play good golf.”
Two-time APGA Tour winner Andrew Walker, of Holt, Michigan, tied Kim for the lowest round on Wednesday by shooting an 8-under 64. Walker, the youngest African American to ever qualify for U.S. Amateur Championship (14 years old in 2013), finished at 11-under 133 to tie for third place with Zane Thomas, of Las Vegas.
Finishing in a three-way tie for fifth place at 7-under 137 were Troy Taylor II (Westerville, Ohio), Skyler Ngo (Henderson, Nevada) and John Chin (Temecula, California).
Long Beach Wilson High School graduate and Cerritos, California resident Andrew Fernandes tied for eighth place with Willy Pumarol, of the Dominican Republic, and Reynoldsburg, Ohio’s Wyatt Worthington II at 6-under 138.
In Tuesday’s first round, Gazzolo fired a 10-under 62 to take a four-shot lead over Kim and Thomas. Gazzolo, a two-time CIF Individual finalist and 2020 Big VIII League MVP at Riverside Poly High School, recorded seven birdies and two eagles en route to recording the lowest round of his pro career.
The APGA at El Dorado is the second of three APGA Farmers Insurance Fall Series events. The tournament follows the APGA at Mission Hills (September 14-16, Rancho Mirage, California), and precedes the APGA at Cedar Crest (October 25-27, Cedar Crest Golf Course, Dallas, Texas).
The APGA Farmers Insurance Fall Series is in its sixth year, and each of these full-field events are open to any professional men’s golfer regardless of APGA Tour membership and award a $10,000 winner’s prize. Prospective players may register for the APGA at Cedar Crest here.
Founded in 2010, the Advocates Professional Golf Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring an inclusive future through the game of golf.
The APGA Tour tees up the 13th event of its 2026 season at the Billy Horschel Invitational Presented by Cisco from October 19-21 at Evermore Resort – Cypress Course in Orlando, Florida. The 2026 APGA Tour season runs through November with 15 tournaments from coast to coast.
About the APGA Tour
The APGA Tour was established in 2010 as a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring an inclusive future through the game of golf. The APGA Tour Board of Directors works diligently to accomplish this by hosting and operating professional golf tournaments, player development programs, mentoring programs, and by introducing the game to inner city young people. In addition to conducting 15 tournaments awarding more than $1 million in prize and bonus money in 2026, the APGA has organized a Player Development Program to aid golfers as they work to chase their professional golf goals.
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The post Former U.C. Irvine Standout David Kim Overcomes a Four-Shot Deficit to Capture his first APGA Tour Title Wednesday at the APGA at El Dorado in Long Beach appeared first on The Golf Wire.