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Nick Randazzo's pursuit of Casey Boyns and Randy Haag for the all-time NCGA wins record is back in full swing.
Randazzo, a 42-year-old caddie at Cypress Point Club, notched his 12th NCGA title on Thursday, capturing the annual Public Links Championship at Poppy Hills after draining a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to knock off good friend Matt Cohn by a stroke.
The win was significant for two reasons--Randazzo's 12 wins are now just four shy of the NCGA record of 16 co-held by Boyns and Haag. It was also his fourth Public Links title, which tied Boyns for the most in that event's history.
"It feels amazing," said Randazzo, who finished the two-day event at 5-under 137 after a final round 66. "It's been a little while since I've been in the winner's circle like this. It keeps getting harder and harder to win."
The last time Randazzo had tasted an NCGA victory was at the 2023 Four-Ball Championship, which he won playing with Cohn. Just moments before Randazzo sank his winning putt, Cohn, playing in the group ahead, had entered the clubhouse with the lead at 4-under par after his own 66.
Coincidentally, Cohn, who recently founded Clarity Golf Mentoring, which aims to help players--both juniors and adults--become high-level tournament players, was also chasing a fourth NCGA Public Links title.
"I looked at the scoreboard on my phone on the 17th hole and saw that it was just Nick and myself," said the 43-year-old Cohn. "Losing stings when there is some minor history on the line."
Cohn early on was the guy to chase. He'd come out on fire, posting a bogey-free, five-birdie 31 on the front nine. A stumbling block would be a double-bogey on No.12, but he did bounce back to play his final six holes at 1-under par.
Randazzo put himself in position with a front nine 33. After the turn, he'd add a birdie on No.13 but later slipped with a bogey on 16 before his heroics on 18.
"Honestly I didn't know I needed to make it to win. I looked at the scores when I walked up the fairway after hitting my second shot. I saw that Matt was at 3-under, and I was at 3-under at the time," Randazzo said. "When I stood over the putt, I convinced myself that I wanted to make it for a good finish regardless. Turns out I needed it. I'm so happy it went in."
Both Randazzo and Cohn had entered the final round three and four strokes back, respectively, of first-round leader Mike Perchak. Perchak went from an opening 68 to a 73.
Third place went to Ryan Sloane at 140 after his second straight 70.
For Randazzo, the victory was also sweet for another reason. It was his first NCGA victory as an individual since the passing of his maternal grandfather, Vincent Randazzo, in 2022. In 2023, Randazzo changed his last name to Moore to honor his grandfather.
"Every win I get is dedicated to him," Randazzo said. "Until I die, all of my wins are dedicated to him. These golfers are so good out here who we're playing with. I've got goosebumps. Feels like all the hard work is paying off. Thank you to the NCGA for these events because it feels amazing when you win."
ABOUT THE
NCGA PubLinks
The NCGA Public Links Championship began in 1966
at Spyglass Hill and is the premier event for the
public-course
player. The tournament has always included a
championship flight for players with handicap
indexes of 5.4 or less and
two handicap divisions for players with no handicap
limit. Contestants
must be bona fide public
course players
who do not hold playing privileges in any course
from which the general public is excluded.
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