Press Release

For Immediate Release October 9, 2022

From worst to first in the SoCal Sunshine

Rob Hughes completes a Hollywood comeback story to win the 2022 WGA Open title

SAN DIEGO. In an underdog story worthy of a Hollywood script, Rob Hughes - who finished last in the 2020 WGA Open - completed his ascendant climb to golf immortality, capturing the 2022 Open title. In doing so, he becomes only the fourth person to win a WGA Open.

"I have put in more work on my golf game over the last 18 months than anyone else out here," explained Hughes about his rise into championship form. "It has been a road paved with frustration, exhaustion, and a lot of hours at the range. But I can say today, it has all been worth it."

Hughes entered the WGA Open with a favorable handicap, yet he had not been able to shoot NET under par even once in the four months leading up to the event. However, over four rounds played at Aviara, The Grand Del Mar, and Torrey Pines North and South, he was able to go NET under par all four rounds. Throughout these rounds, he found amazing consistency in his long woods, often turning the length of the courses into his advantage as his 3 and 5 wood play was the strength of his game.

"Those of us in pursuit of Rob knew we just needed him to have that one inevitable blow-up round to hunt him down," said Brian Gray, who finished second. "We kept waiting for the terrible round to come. We knew it would come. Yet it never did. I have to tip my hat to Rob for keeping it together throughout the intense pressure that comes with leading the WGA Open."

The expectation of a Hughes slip-up was well-founded. Rob has been playing golf for less than 30 months. In 2020, he opened the WGA Open as the surprise first round leader, but fell from first to last in the course of just the second round, and stayed in last from then on.

"I knew I could hit good shots, but I also knew I had struggled with consistency. I made that word, consistency, my swing thought on every shot all week long, and it was just enough to take me to victory," concluded Hughes.

The final standings - top three:

Rob Hughes

Brian Gray

Byron Okutsu

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About the Western Golf Alliance: The Western Golf Alliance is the premier golf organization in the United States. The WGA exists to further the greatness of this grand sport of golf through the improvement of golf play by its members, the promotion of golf rules, etiquette, and tradition, and the ability to gather together from time to time for golf events and tournaments. The regional organization spans five western states, and is organized into nine geographic regions. Further information is available at http://www.westerngolf.org/.

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