NCGA Masters: Swanson leads after first round
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (June 20, 2011) --Del Paso’s Dave Swanson has a two-stroke lead after the first round of the NCGA Master Division Championship at Poppy Hills.
The event, for competitors aged 40 and older, saw only four players match or beat par in the first 18. Swanson turned at one-over 37, but caught fire on Poppy Hills’ back nine, posting four birdies. His three-under 69 tops Riverbend’s Mike Stieler’s one-under 71 and Scot Lance of the Meadow Club and Steven Fochs of Peach Tree, both of whom carded even-par 72s. Fochs’ round was highlighted by three bogeys, two double bogeys, three birdies and two eagles, highlighting the fact that there’s no prize for how a golfer gets to the final score, just the score itself.
NCGA Senior champion Jim Knoll of Rooster Run is four back of the lead along with three other players. Defending champion Daniel Sullivan is eight back of the lead. Sullivan captured the 2010 championship in dramatic fashion, making double eagle on the final hole to force a playoff.
The championship concludes with the final round tomorrow at Spyglass Hill.