MURRIETA — Three out of the last five golfers who led the California State Open after 54 holes failed to bring home the title.
Temecula’s Isaac Rodea was determined not to be the fourth in six years.
Isaac Rodea holds the 126th California State Open Championship trophy after winning the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Isaac Rodea from Temecula, tees off during final round of the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Isaac Rodea celebrates sinking the final putt to win the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club as does his caddy Jhonas Richards, right, in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Isaac Rodea celebrates with his mother Estela Rodea after sinking the final putt to win the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Isaac Rodea from Temecula, tees off during final round of the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Hudson Vedder from Laguna Niguel, reacts as he misses a putt during final round of the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Isaac Rodea from Temecula hits out of a fairway sand trap during final round of the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Hudson Vedder from Laguna Niguel, watches his bunker shot roll onto the green during final round of the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Isaac Rodea from Temecula, watches his tee shot during final round of the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Hudson Vedder from Laguna Niguel, tees off during final round of the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Isaac Rodea from Temecula, watches his tee shot during final round of the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Adam Matteson from San Diego reacts to missing a putt during final round of the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Isaac Rodea from Temecula hits out of a fairway sand trap on the 18th hole during final round of the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Isaac Rodea from Temecula, hits a fairway shot during final round of the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Isaac Rodea from Temecula blasts out of a bunker during final round of the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Isaac Rodea takes a selfie with the 126th California State Open Championship trophy as the gallery watches, after he won the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Isaac Rodea reacts with the 126th California State Open Championship trophy after winning the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Isaac Rodea holds the 126th California State Open Championship trophy after winning the California State Open golf tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Rodea started Thursday’s final round with three birdies in four holes and went out in 5-under par 31 to take his lead to four shots over Laguna Niguel’s Hudson Vedder, who just completed his freshman year at Central Michigan.
Vedder made back-to-back birdies on the back nine to cut the deficit back to three shots, but that’s as close as he would get.
Rodea got up and down for pars from three green-side bunkers in a five-hole stretch to preserve the lead and win his first professional event after shooting rounds of 69-70-64-68-271 (-17). He takes home $10,000 for the win. It’s his first victory since winning the 2022 Cowboy Classic at Palm Desert’s Classic Club while playing for Long Beach State.
Last year, Rodea missed a putt on the 72nd green that would have got him into a playoff.
“I’ve had some close calls over the last few years, so to get it done feels incredible and I think it’ll open the floodgates,” Rodea said. “Getting this done in front of my family and friends makes it so much sweeter because they were with me through all of the close calls.”
Vedder earned low amateur honors after making the cut on the number Tuesday afternoon and shooting 74-70-62-68-274 (-14) to win that title by three shots over Jurupa Valley’s Kyle An, who just finished his career at UCLA. Vedder took home $1,000 after a change to the rules of amateur status. His third round 62 is the lowest round at Bear Creek in its five years hosting the event.
Rodea stuck short iron shots to five feet at Nos. 1 and 4, along with getting up and down for birdie from just left of the green at the par-5 third hole. He then made back-to-back birdies at Nos. 7 and 8, nearly holing a 75-yard wedge shot at No. 7 for eagle to close his first nine.
Vedder had chances to further cut into the deficit but missed short birdie putts at Nos. 11 and 15. He also missed a short par putt at No. 12 after seeing his birdie putt from 40 feet graze the hole.
Three other golfers with Inland ties finished in the top 10. Great Oak graduate Jose Pelayo shot the day’s low round (63), making 10 birdies and one bogey to finish at 10-under-par 278. He finished tied for fourth alongside Murrieta Valley Golf Range PGA professional Ryan Kolk, who shot rounds of 69, 69, 71 and 69.. Bear Creek assistant Christian Rajcic shot a final round 71 to finish tied for sixth at 8-under-par 280.
Like many aspiring professionals, Rodea has to carry a second job that somewhat limits his time to practice. For him, that’s a position in outside services at Temecula’s Redhawk Golf Club where he’ll go back to work on Saturday.
“I may not have the time to practice that I’d like, but winning here shows that I’m working on the right things with what time I do get,” Rodea said. “I know there will be a number of folks there to congratulate me and that means a lot.”