- Frank Albelda photo
ALAMEDA, Calif. (April 17, 2011) -- Rick
Reinsberg claimed his fifth Alameda Commuters
title today, firing a final round of 4-under 67 at
the Chuck Corica Golf Complex Earl Fry North
course. Recent winner of the NCGA Senior
Championship Jim Knoll defended his senior
championship title, continuing his torrid
season.
The Alameda Commuter Golf
Tournament is one of Northern California’s
oldest and most beloved amateur golf
tournaments. For over 84 years, the Alameda
Commuters Golf Committee has strived each
year to produce an event that captures the
true essence of being an amateur golfer. Back
that with 250 NCGA points!
Over the
years, many players have captured the
coveted “Commuters” title. From 1928 winner,
J. Charles Jordan, to the Lotz brothers, to
2010 winner George Gandranata, there are two
players that have stood above all the
champions: Talbert Smith who captured seven
titles in 1941,'46, '47, '50, '51, '52 and '54 and
Bob Blomberg who captured six titles in 1974,
'78, '79, '84,'86 and '93.
After firing 8 under par 276 over 72 holes Rick
Reinsberg, of Lafayette, CA can now add to his
total of “Commuters” titles...number 5! Since
his first win in 2003, Rick also won in '04, '06,
'07 and now in 2011! That's five wins in nine
years!
Reinsberg starting the final round tied for the
lead with 36 hole medalist, Ricky Stockton.
The two, alongside Chabot College star Ryan
Thomas of Alameda and 2010 defending
champion, George Gandranata teed off for
what would prove to be an epic battle. After
a front nine 33, Reinsberg held a small lead.
Only Ryan Thomas, who fired a back nine 31
was a threat and passed Stockton and
Gandranata to finish runner-up. This is
Thomas’s second runner up finish in the event.
After the round Reinsberg expressed
satisfaction with this win as he stated “I felt
that I let 2010 slip away." Although family has
limited Rick’s tournament schedule, he feels
that if there is one tournament to play in, the
Alameda Commuters is that event he will seek
out each year. At the awards ceremony, Rick’s
wife and two children were on hand to share in
his epic win!
In the 24th annual Alameda Commuters Senior,
Jim Knoll of Sunnyvale, added to his collection
with his 3rd STRAIGHT title; winning in 2009-
2010. Knoll, probably the hottest amateur in
Northern California with his 5 wins in 2011,
including the 2011 NCGA Senior Amateur had
this to say:
…the Earl Fry course in Alameda is
spectacular! Narrow fairways, excellent rough
and firm greens with exciting pin placements.
By far, this is the best field we play against.
Everyone here is a champion. Everyone wants
to play here. To beat a player like Jeff Burda
by one is exciting, to say the least….
Knoll’s, 137 (66-71) outlasted Burda’s 138 (72-
66) who finished runner-up. NCGA stalwart
John Enright of Montara fired 142 (70-72) to
finish third.
14 year old Jeff Carney, of San Mateo, CA fired
rounds of 73-77-75-68—293 to finish T22.
Carney, is the youngest amateur to play and
qualify in the Commuters!
ABOUT THE
Alameda Commuters
What's in a name? In the case of the Alameda
Commuters Championship, the logo of the
almost 100
year old tournament would be a dead
giveaway. It's
a steam ferry, which was the only way to
"commute"
to San Francisco from the East Bay before the
Bay
Bridge was built. Started as an informal event
-- the
original first prize was a bag of nails -- the
tournament has grown into one of the top
independent events in California.
A
dedicated tournament committee prides itself
on
running the competition
as if
it were a PGA Tour event. Two of the best
public
courses at the city-owned Chuck Corica Golf
Complex
are prepared with care. Slick greens, Sunday
pins,
and even that rarity in amateur golf –
spectators are
all part of the fun. The roped-off scoreboard is
a
particular area of pride for the "green jackets"
who
were wearing dark green blazers before they
were
made popular by another tournament you
might be
aware of in Augusta Georgia. The 250 player
championship division is cut to 50 and ties for
the
second weekend, at which time the 36-hole
senior
division tees off to join them.
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