Fallbrook, CA – Former University of New Mexico star James Erkenbeck of San Diego, CA – making his first professional start outside of Web.com Tour Q-School – posted rounds of 70-66-64—200 (13-under) to win eGolf Tour West’s inaugural Golf Club of California Classic on Friday, coming from behind to erase a three-shot deficit in order to claim the event’s $8,000 first-place prize.

Entering the third and final round at host Golf Club of California, Erkenbeck trailed overnight leader and former University of Oregon standout Daniel Miernicki of Santee, CA by three shots at 6-under 136. Miernicki, also making his first career start in an eGolf-sanctioned event, opened the tournament with rounds of 68-65—133 (9-under) to sit two shots clear of the field heading into Friday morning.

Erkenbeck, who played two groups ahead of Miernicki, began his final round in solid fashion, posting birdies on Nos. 3, 6 and 9 to turn at 3-under 32 and 9-under par for the week.

The solid start played in stark contrast to the struggles of the day’s final threesome of Miernicki, Tim Madigan (Rio Rancho, NM) and Shawn Jasper (Marthasville, MO), who failed to gain any separation after turning at even par, even par and 1-over par, respectively.

“I played well all day, giving myself birdie looks on almost every hole,” said Erkenbeck, 24. “I wanted to get to 12-under at the start of the day, because I figured that Daniel wouldn’t shoot worse than 3-under or so – he’s a very strong player.”

Jeff Hart (AP)

Suddenly in the mix and tied for the lead at 9-under par alongside a struggling Miernicki, Erkenbeck played brilliantly on the closing nine, more than validating a birdie at the par-4 13th with a chip-in eagle at the par-4 14th to vault to 12-under par for the tournament.

“Once I got into the flow of things, I started really hitting it well,” said Erkenbeck. “After the chip-in on 14, I wasn’t quite sure if I was leading or not, I just knew that I wanted to make a few more birdies coming in.”

Erkenbeck’s torrid back-nine charge continued a few holes later, as a tap-in birdie at the par-4 17th pushed him to 7-under par for the day, where he eventually finished after a closing par left him with a final-round 66. His 13-under par clubhouse tally was good enough for a three-shot win, as the day’s final threesome continued their struggles on the closing nine, in turn failing to make a charge towards Erkenbeck’s runaway victory.

Erkenbeck’s college career at New Mexico was well documented, as he finished second in all-time scoring at the storied program, which has produced a number of PGA TOUR players.

In 2013, the Lobo star played extremely well, earning first-team “All America” honors after being named Mountain West Conference “Player of the Year” – thanks in part to an individual title at the NCAA Tournament’s Columbus regional. From there, Erkenbeck was named to the victorious 2013 U.S. Palmer Cup team, and eventually finished as a semi-finalist in the U.S. Public Links Championship later that summer.

“Everything you accomplished as an amateur, to an extent, goes down the drain once you turn pro,” Erkenbeck said after his round. “I really just wanted to go out and play good golf and see what that would do. Once I got into that rhythm out there today, I knew I was going to be in good shape.”

Christopher Cunningham of San Diego, CA notched runner-up honors with rounds of 68-68-67—203, finishing three shots behind Erkenbeck at 10-under par for the tournament.

Cunningham, who entered the final round tied alongside Erkenbeck at 6-under par, played even-par golf through his opening eight holes on day three, but then finished with birdies on Nos. 9, 12, 14 and 16 to round out his 4-under-par 67.

Current Champions Tour member and former PGA and Web.com Tour member Jeff Hart of Solana Beach, CA finished in solo-third place at 9-under 204, thanks in part to a final-round 66. The 53-year-old won the Web.com Tour’s Steamtown Classic in 2000, and finished T4 at Champions Tour Q-School last year to earn status for the 2014 season. Hart earned $3,550 for the week.

Miernicki and Madigan closed with 72 and 70, respectively, to end the week at 8-under 205, tied for fourth place. The pair earned $2,950 each.

• eGolf Tour West would like to thank Golf Club of California director of golf Tim Gardner, golf course superintendents Juan Mata and Chendo Diaz, as well as their respective staffs, for their joint efforts in making this first-year event a success.

• The tour will return to action on February 12-14, 2014 for the Championship at Soboba Springs, to be contested at former Web.com Tour host Soboba Springs Country Club in San Jacinto, CA.