Bear Creek wins California Scratch League Title
Team Bear Creek, L to R: Iain Macdonald, Todd Stires,
David Ober, Bob Erling, Tom Norys (captain), Rick
Taniguchi and Robert Funk (NCGA photo)
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Dec. 7, 2015) -- Bear Creek Golf Club wrapped up its second title in a row and third in the last five years.
Located in Murrieta, Bear Creek tallied 36 points in Monday’s Cal Scratch League State Championship at par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Course, defeating runner-up Roddy Ranch GC by two points.
Along with winning last year, Bear Creek also took the title in 2011.
“We just play a lot together and know each other’s games,” Bear Creek captain Tom Norys said. “We all play in SCGA events and also in NorCal events.”
The championship would come down to the final foursome. Iain MacDonald’s 76 points put Bear Creek over the top. Leading Bear Creek was Dave Ober with 80 points. Norys and Todd Stires both had 78 points.
Roddy Ranch, who finished with 34 team points, was led by Garrett Wagner’s 90 points. Mark Miller tallied 79, and Todd Howe had 78 points.
The player having the best day was Saticoy CC’s Nathan Celusta, who racked up 92 points. Earlier this year Celusta -- a former professional -- won the SCGA Amateur.
Both Saticoy CC and Rancho Murieta CC finished tied for third with 21 team points.
The league uses a format where every hole is worth 16 points–7 to the winner, 5 to second, 3 to third and 1 for fourth. Each player then competes against the other three players in the foursome. If all the players tie on a specific hole, each player receives four points.