--photo NCGA

Get the Earl Fry North and Jack Clark South in “ COMMUTERS CONDITION!”

So, what does “ Commuters Condition” mean? Well if it means firm greens, 2”-3” rough, and on average 30 yard wide fairways, well that is EXACTLY what 201 of the best amateur golfer who teed it up in the 84th Alameda Commuter Golf Tournament were faced with this weekend at one of Northern California’s premiere amateur golf events.

When 1994 Alameda Commuters champion and current NCGA Player of the Year Randy Haag says “ both of these course’s are in better shape than the SF’s Olympic Club, site of the 2012 US OPEN” you are doing something right. When course conditions challenge a fine player, like Haag, a former 1994 Commuters Champion, to shoot 72-74/146, well, you are doing something right to test one of Northern California’s best players. All in all, every contestant expressed satisfaction with how well the Alameda Commuter Committee runs the Alameda Commuter Golf Tournament.

After 36 holes, Ricky Stockton, of Salinas leads 54 players into next weekend’s finals. At 4 under par 138, Stockton leads 4 time Alameda Commuters champion Rick Reinsberg 70-69/141 by one stroke, and Anthony Barrera 70-70/140 by two strokes: all three will be in the final pairing on Saturday, April 16th. Defending 2010 Commuters champion, George Gandranata is 3 back at with 71-70/141.

With 201 players and a cut line of low 50 and ties, it took a score of 8 over par 150 to make the finals of this year. A true testament to the test of golf these players endured. Said many of the Commuters 40 man committee, with the cut line being closer to 145-148…”this is one of the higher cuts in the past 15 years!” One player exclaimed, “ it’s easier to make the cut in the MASTERS, than the ALAMEDA COMMUTERS!”

Many notables to make the cut are:

2000-2001 Alameda Commuters champion Darryl Donovan 73-76 - 1492000 SF City Champion Nick Ushijima 72-72 -1442011 SF City Champion Brandon Hagy 75-69 – 1442004 SF City Champion and Alameda’s Mike Schmitz 72-77- 149

14 year old, Jeff Carney of San Mateo fired 73-77 – 150, with what proves to be the youngest player to survive the cut line at the Alameda Commuters history.

Many fine Alamedean’s teed it up this weekend: Mike Schmitz 72-77 -149, Shawn Shelby 79-76-155, Andrew Wood 74-78- 152, Patrick Wlazio 79-76- 155 and Robert Schmitz 79-81-160.

This years Commuters had three qualified ladies tee it up: Jenny Jenq of Saratoga 81-79, Alexis Garduno, 79-91-170 and SJSU golfer Jordan Ontiveros of Alamo who fired 73-78- 151.

Next weekend April 16-17, these 50 players will tee it up along 48 of Northern California’s best Senior amateur golfers. This list includes: 2 time defending Commuters champion and current 2011 NCGA Champ, Jim Knoll. Knoll will be playing along side past Commuter Senior champions Jay Guerin, Bob Olds, and Mark Miller. Also playing for the championship will be John Enright, Ken Webb, and Marco Dusi.

Alameda’s Bob Blomberg, whose 6 Commuters crowns rival only 40’s-50’s standout Tal Smith, will be playing along side AHS standout and NCGA stalwart Mark Merrigan. Merrigan, whose is coming off a top 5 finish in the NCGA Senior, will be the one to watch in this years 24th Alameda Commuters Senior Golf Championship.