Going from a stand-in to champ

TOLUCA LAKE — No matter the circumstances, he wasn’t going to squander a golden opportunity.

About two weeks ago, Nick Delio was at his Valencia home when the phone rang. It was the Southern California Golf Assn., which invited Delio to participate in the 97th annual California Amateur Championship at Oakmont Country Club and Lakeside Golf Club.

At first stunned by the query, the 18-year-old Delio eventually accepted the invitation. Then he made the most of his chance.

The sixth-seeded Delio reached the apex of his career Saturday when he knocked off 20th-seeded Austin Roberts, 7 and 5, at Lakeside to win the championship.

Delio grabbed the championship trophy, which had been previously won by Jack Neville, George Von Elm, Johnny Dawson, Gene Littler, Ken Venturi, Johnny Miller and Mark O’Meara, and raised it in the air in front of a large throng who applauded his effort one final time.

It’s a moment that Delio, who was the first alternate from his qualifying site of Sterling Hills Golf Course in Camarillo and was granted a spot in the tournament after E.J. Kahn suffered an injury, probably didn’t imagine would occur earlier this month.

“E.J. had to drop out with an injury, and luckily they called me up,” said Delio, a member of the Cal State Northridge men’s golf program. “I was thankful for the opportunity because I was going to get the chance to show off my skills.

“I had been playing well for a while leading up to the tournament. I took advantage of the situation, and I stuck to my game plan of being able to shoot well on the fairways and greens.”

Flanked by family, friends and veteran CSUN golf Coach Jim Bracken, Delio navigated his way the past week through Lakeside’s tight fairways and small greens once played by gigantic celebrities Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and John Wayne. Bracken, who just wrapped up his 22nd season at CSUN, arrived early in the second round of the 36-hole championship.

Bracken must have been impressed with what he saw.

“It’s awesome because it’s great for Nick and CSUN,” Bracken said. “He’s comfortable with his abilities, but he’s not cocky.

“Since we’ve had him at Northridge, he’s played great. We are very fortunate that he came to CSUN.”

Delio’s story the past week might have made for a good move script since he won a championship on an historic course in close proximity to Warner Bros. and Walt Disney studios.

There’s yet another opportunity just in front of Delio: He’s got the chance to win a second straight championship next June when the tournament moves to Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City.

There hasn’t been a repeat champion since Frank “Bud” Taylor accomplished the feat in 1955.

“I do have that chance, but it’s a long way from now,” Delio said. “I have to wait until I get up there and see the course.

“It’s been a long week and I just want to relax a little bit.”

Delio has earned that right.