From Left: Bruce Hanavan, Niger, Randy Haag, Robert Funk
STEVINSON, CALIFORNIA (April 2, 2006) -- Bob Niger has been on a bit of a roll
in amateurgolf.com events this year in Northern California, with a win every month
so far (and guess how many events we average per month...) It seems like the tougher
the conditions, the more he distances himself from the competition.
At the Livermore Valley Championship in early January at Wente Vineyards (where
they just played a Nationwide Tour event) Niger shot 146 in some wet and windy
weather to win by 6 strokes. He added a victory in February at the Wine Country
Cup at StoneTree -- playing his final 8 holes in 4-under-par to shoot 73 and win
the Championship by 8 on a waterlogged Sunday in Novato. His March title was the
Diablo Valley Amateur at Shadow Lakes, where his margin was five.
But this weekend Niger faced the strongest field on the amateurgolf.com schedule
at the California Mid Amateur, where names like Randy Haag, Jeff Burda, Casey
Boyns, and many others were present to play for 125 NCGA points at one of California's
finest public facilities - Stevinson Ranch.
Niger opened with a strong 71 on Saturday to tie for the lead with Casey Boyns
and Steve Wilson. On Sunday, he played solid enough golf to lead his group, yet
there was no telling what explosive players like Randy Haag were doing on the course.
At 2-under par for the tournament heading into the tricky seventeenth hole, Niger
faced a 10-foot par putt and rolled it home. Not comfortable that 2-under would
do the trick, he wedged it close with his third at the par-5 eighteenth to grab
a satisfying birdie that turned out to be the tournament winner, since Haag had
posted a final round 69 to finish 2-under par at 142.
"I wanted to stick that wedge on eighteen," said Niger. "I thought
I might need it."
Haag's 69, the lowest of the tournament -- recent rains caused Stevinson Ranch
to play much longer than normal -- was the result of a hot putter on a day when
his touchy lower back was anything but cooperative on full shots.
"I guess you can't have it all," remarked Haag, who putts with a unique side-saddle
style. "Last night I practiced putting for two hours, so much that I got a sore
back and could barely swing - but I did make everything today."
The Championship flight of the tournament was divided into two age brackets, a
Masters Division for players 40-54 years old, and a Mid-Am Division for players
25-39. Tim Tipton was the winner of the Mid-Am Division with a 146 total while
Adam Sides finished two back at 148.
|
In the Senior Division, Napa's Dave Carroll held off Carl Selkirk of Chico to
win by two strokes at even-par 144. Carroll, who was tied with Carl Selkirk
with two holes to play, birdied his seventeenth hole -- the risk-reward par-4
eighth -- against a Selkirk bogey to grab a 2-shot swing which would last through
the final hole.
"Carl just missed his par putt on the same line as my birdie putt, so I had
to thank him for giving me the line," quipped Carroll, a veteran Senior player.
Tom Lyons finished at 148 for solo third place.
The Net Division was a much tighter race than it looked, as first round leader
James Priscaro found all the trouble he avoided during his Saturday net 65 (a
gross 73 with an 8 handicap) but won the title despite slipping to a net 78
on Sunday. Jeff Traweek finished in second place at 1-over-par 145, while Tim
Maas and Al Richardson tied for third at 149. Richardson's final round 72 was
the lowest round of the leaders.
TOURNAMENT NOTES:
- San Francisco City Senior Champ Jeff Early of Pleasanton had the ultimate
"with-a" day and caused amateurgolf.com founder Pete Wlodkowski to
do a double take when reviewing his Sunday card. Early made an 11 on the par-3
seventh hole (his 16th) then finished par-birdie to shoot a remarkable 80. "I
made an ace on No. 7 during the 2004 Metropolitan Amateur, so my average is
6," quipped Early, who was shaken but not stirred by the bunker-ob-bunker-etc.
series that led the the large number.
- Speaking of par-3's, Ocean Honda again provided us with a beautiful Honda
Ridgeline truck for an ace on No. 16, but unfortunately nobody is driving away in the silver beauty
(If you want to buy or lease one, call Steve John at 831-464-2412 for an amateurgolf.com
member deal). Troy Laughlin of Yorba Linda got in the spirit, took dead aim
and told his fellow competitors that he was going after the truck. His 7-iron
hosel-rocketed towards the pond, clipping a surprised mallard and nearly caused
an Audubon Society infraction (the duck lived). "Did I say truck or duck?"
joked Laughlin.
- Sponsors UST Golf Shaft,
(represented by Jamie Pipes, PGA) and Bridgestone
Golf (represented by Gary Renelt) did a great job with the demo day on the
range on Saturday. Leith Anderson's company The
Golf Lab provided their tour van and won over some new customers with their
technical prowess. We appreciate the support of these companies and look forward
to building a tradition of a Saturday demo day during this event. To inquire
about purchasing any of the equipment you saw, contact Pete Wlodkowski at 760-929-9297.
- Thanks to the Turlock Christian High School golf team for acting as spotters, and to coach Jeff Cedarwood and two parents for witnessing on No. 16. Over $1000 was raised for the team's April trip to Myrtle Beach! Tim Maas, by the way won the closest to the pin with a 2 foot, 3" shot on No. 16 - he unfortunately got so excited he missed the putt. Zack Taylor took second place in the two-day competition.
- Finally, special thanks to Stevinson Ranch founder George Kelley and his entire
staff for once again hosting us and helping to build this tournament into one
of the best tournaments in California. The course once again got rave reviews,
and we were treated like gold as always!
* * *
Final results from the amateurgolf.com California Mid-Amateur, played at the
6996 yard, Par-72 Stevinson Ranch Golf Club:
Note: For NCGA Points, the Mid-Amateur and Masters Divisions are combined
into one large Championship Flight.
|
MASTER DIVISION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pos |
First |
Last |
City |
ST |
Division |
R1 |
Rd2 |
Tot |
1 |
Bob |
Niger |
El Dorado Hills |
CA |
Masters |
71 |
70 |
141 |
2 |
Randy |
Haag |
Burlingame |
CA |
Masters |
73 |
69 |
142 |
T3 |
Robert |
Funk |
Lake Elsinore |
CA |
Masters |
74 |
71 |
145 |
T3 |
Bruce |
Hanavan |
San Francisco |
CA |
Masters |
72 |
73 |
145 |
5 |
Casey |
Boyns |
Pacific Grove |
CA |
Masters |
71 |
76 |
147 |
T6 |
Jeff |
Burda |
Modesto |
CA |
Masters |
75 |
73 |
148 |
T6 |
Conrad |
Nilmeier |
Fresno |
CA |
Masters |
74 |
74 |
148 |
T6 |
Ben |
Whipple |
El Dorado Hills |
CA |
Masters |
73 |
75 |
148 |
T6 |
Steve |
Wilson |
Discovery Bay |
CA |
Masters |
71 |
77 |
148 |
10 |
John |
Justus |
Fairfield |
CA |
Masters |
76 |
73 |
149 |
T11 |
Terry |
Foreman |
Antioch |
CA |
Masters |
76 |
76 |
152 |
T11 |
Andrew |
Overton |
Livermore |
CA |
Masters |
77 |
75 |
152 |
T13 |
Randy |
Blankenbaker |
Rohnert Park |
CA |
Masters |
77 |
76 |
153 |
T13 |
Steve |
Donnelly |
Salinas |
CA |
Masters |
78 |
75 |
153 |
T15 |
David |
Capel |
Ripon |
CA |
Masters |
81 |
76 |
157 |
T15 |
Joel |
Fieri |
San Diego |
CA |
Masters |
78 |
79 |
157 |
T15 |
Dave |
Rathjen |
San Jose |
CA |
Masters |
77 |
80 |
157 |
T18 |
Hank |
McCusker |
Mendocino |
CA |
Masters |
82 |
76 |
158 |
T18 |
Eugene |
Medlock |
Westlake Village |
CA |
Masters |
78 |
80 |
158 |
T18 |
Tim |
Snow |
Davis |
CA |
Masters |
78 |
80 |
158 |
T21 |
Mark |
Miller |
Antioch |
CA |
Masters |
78 |
81 |
159 |
T21 |
Greg |
O'Malley |
Sonoma |
CA |
Masters |
80 |
79 |
159 |
T21 |
Pete |
Wlodkowski |
Carlsbad |
CA |
Masters |
81 |
78 |
159 |
T21 |
Joe |
Zanassi |
Martinez |
CA |
Masters |
76 |
83 |
159 |
|
Neil |
Duffy |
Santa Cruz |
CA |
Masters |
79 |
81 |
160 |
|
Zack |
Taylor |
Modesto |
CA |
Masters |
77 |
84 |
161 |
|
Gregory |
Sgarlato |
San Jose |
CA |
Masters |
82 |
80 |
162 |
|
Jeff |
Coffey |
Modesto |
CA |
Masters |
78 |
85 |
163 |
|
Dirk |
Godsey |
San Rafael |
CA |
Masters |
84 |
80 |
164 |
|
Mitch |
Soekland |
Santa Rosa |
CA |
Masters |
79 |
85 |
164 |
|
Michael |
Flood |
Discovery Bay |
CA |
Masters |
86 |
79 |
165 |
|
Bob |
Cayton |
Aptos |
CA |
Masters |
88 |
78 |
166 |
|
Donald |
Gerber |
Menlo Park |
CA |
Masters |
83 |
83 |
166 |
|
Mark K |
Miller |
Bethel Island |
CA |
Masters |
84 |
82 |
166 |
|
Dan |
Burkland |
Alamo |
CA |
Masters |
83 |
84 |
167 |
|
Steve |
Lico |
Menlo Park |
CA |
Masters |
80 |
87 |
167 |
|
Jim |
Lyons |
Brentwood |
CA |
Masters |
86 |
81 |
167 |
|
Michael |
Olivas |
Winters |
CA |
Masters |
80 |
87 |
167 |
|
Peter |
Camarena |
Modesto |
CA |
Masters |
80 |
88 |
168 |
|
Gary |
Maniery |
Sacramento |
CA |
Masters |
78 |
90 |
168 |
|
Dave |
Curley |
Sacramento |
CA |
Masters |
87 |
85 |
172 |
|
Randall |
Schwartz |
Burlingame |
CA |
Masters |
98 |
90 |
188 |
|
Rob |
Adolph |
Fresno |
CA |
Masters |
81 |
wd |
|
|
Mike |
Davis |
Santa Rosa |
CA |
Masters |
84 |
wd |
|
|
Bill |
Foley |
San Ramon |
CA |
Masters |
91 |
wd |
|
|
Tony |
McBroom |
Stockton |
CA |
Masters |
79 |
wd |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MID-AM DIVISION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pos |
First |
Last |
City |
ST |
Division |
R1 |
Rd2 |
Tot |
1 |
Timothy |
Tipton |
Del Rey Oaks |
CA |
Mid-Am |
73 |
73 |
146 |
2 |
Adam |
Sides |
Camarillo |
CA |
Mid-Am |
76 |
72 |
148 |
3 |
David |
Ober |
Riverside |
CA |
Mid-Am |
72 |
78 |
150 |
4 |
Todd |
Stires |
Murrieta |
CA |
Mid-Am |
78 |
77 |
155 |
5 |
Andrew |
Biggadike |
Palo Alto |
CA |
Mid-Am |
80 |
77 |
157 |
T6 |
Cary |
Chiappone |
Moraga |
CA |
Mid-Am |
76 |
84 |
160 |
T6 |
Chris |
Monroe |
san luis obispo |
CA |
Mid-Am |
79 |
81 |
160 |
T6 |
Ty |
Murphy |
Fresno |
CA |
Mid-Am |
79 |
81 |
160 |
T9 |
William |
Brekhus |
Mendocino |
CA |
Mid-Am |
76 |
86 |
162 |
T9 |
Jon |
Mygrant |
Redding |
CA |
Mid-Am |
79 |
83 |
162 |
|
Matt |
Couch |
Tracy |
CA |
Mid-Am |
85 |
79 |
164 |
|
Ryan |
de la Motte |
Turlock |
CA |
Mid-Am |
84 |
82 |
166 |
|
Jud |
Spencer |
San Jose |
CA |
Mid-Am |
78 |
88 |
166 |
|
Troy |
Laughlin |
Placentia |
CA |
Mid-Am |
84 |
84 |
168 |
|
Joseph |
Woo |
Greenbrae |
CA |
Mid-Am |
85 |
89 |
174 |
|
Kevin |
Clark |
Modesto |
CA |
Mid-Am |
wd |
|
|
|
Will |
Johnson |
San Francisco |
CA |
Mid-Am |
wd |
|
|
|
Kevin |
Kobalter |
San Rafael |
CA |
Mid-Am |
wd |
|
|
|
Jerry |
Ledzinski |
Carmel |
CA |
Mid-Am |
wd |
|
|
|
Wayne |
McClintock |
Palo Alto |
CA |
Mid-Am |
wd |
|
|
|
|
SENIOR DIVISION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pos |
First |
Last |
City |
ST |
Division |
R1 |
Rd2 |
Tot |
1 |
Dave |
Carroll |
Napa |
CA |
Senior |
70 |
74 |
144 |
2 |
Carl |
Selkirk |
Chico |
CA |
Senior |
73 |
73 |
146 |
3 |
Tom |
Lyons |
Pleasanton |
CA |
Senior |
75 |
73 |
148 |
T4 |
Frank |
Abbott |
Napa |
CA |
Senior |
79 |
72 |
151 |
T4 |
Earl |
Stewart |
Fairfax |
CA |
Senior |
74 |
77 |
151 |
6 |
Greg |
Saiki |
Sanger |
CA |
Senior |
75 |
77 |
152 |
T7 |
David |
Fein |
San Francisco |
CA |
Senior |
77 |
76 |
153 |
8 |
Raul |
Perez |
Modesto |
CA |
Senior |
79 |
75 |
154 |
T9 |
Greg |
Futch |
Santa Rosa |
CA |
Senior |
76 |
79 |
155 |
T9 |
Frank |
Pieper |
carmel |
CA |
Senior |
76 |
79 |
155 |
T9 |
Robert |
Rowland |
Danville |
CA |
Senior |
72 |
83 |
155 |
T9 |
Mike |
Spellman |
Brentwood |
CA |
Senior |
71 |
84 |
155 |
T13 |
George |
Kelley |
Stevinson |
CA |
Senior |
79 |
77 |
156 |
T13 |
Rob |
Thompson |
Merced |
CA |
Senior |
76 |
80 |
156 |
T15 |
Terry |
Ackerman |
Monterey |
CA |
Senior |
82 |
75 |
157 |
T15 |
Patrick |
Rauber |
La Quinta |
CA |
Senior |
77 |
80 |
157 |
T15 |
Bob |
Schoenherr |
San Jose |
CA |
Senior |
78 |
79 |
157 |
|
Bob |
Olds |
Brentwood |
CA |
Senior |
78 |
80 |
158 |
|
Vic |
Shellenberg |
Santa Rosa |
CA |
Senior |
74 |
84 |
158 |
|
Doug |
Dusenbury |
Monterey |
CA |
Senior |
78 |
81 |
159 |
|
Leith |
Anderson |
Palo Alto |
CA |
Senior |
77 |
83 |
160 |
|
Jeff |
Early |
Pleasanton |
CA |
Senior |
81 |
80 |
161 |
|
Jim |
Welsh |
San Jose |
CA |
Senior |
78 |
83 |
161 |
|
Tony |
Wilmer |
San Mateo |
CA |
Senior |
82 |
80 |
162 |
|
Bob |
Ackerman |
Oakdale |
CA |
Senior |
84 |
81 |
165 |
|
Ron |
Erkenbrecher |
clovis |
CA |
Senior |
82 |
83 |
165 |
|
Jeffrey |
True |
Pleasanton |
CA |
Senior |
88 |
78 |
166 |
|
Dave |
Patty |
Newport Coast |
CA |
Senior |
78 |
89 |
167 |
|
Bob |
Wikse |
Rocklin |
CA |
Senior |
93 |
86 |
179 |
|
Shelton |
Washburn |
Novato |
CA |
Senior |
dq |
dq |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET DIVISION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pos |
First |
Last |
City |
ST |
Division |
R1 |
Rd2 |
Tot |
1 |
James |
Priscaro |
Santa Clara |
CA |
Net |
65 |
78 |
143 |
2 |
Jeff |
Traweek |
Auburn |
CA |
Net |
71 |
74 |
145 |
T3 |
Tim |
Maas |
San Anselmo |
CA |
Net |
73 |
76 |
149 |
T3 |
Al |
Richardson |
Santa Clara |
CA |
Net |
77 |
72 |
149 |
T5 |
Richard |
Mathers |
Palo Alto |
CA |
Net |
75 |
77 |
152 |
T5 |
Jim |
Thurman |
Clayton |
CA |
Net |
80 |
72 |
152 |
T6 |
Brian |
Holt |
San Mateo |
CA |
Net |
76 |
77 |
153 |
T6 |
Todd |
Knapp |
Salinas |
CA |
Net |
73 |
80 |
153 |
8 |
James |
Grensted |
Belmont |
CA |
Net |
77 |
77 |
154 |
9 |
Gary |
Koshaba |
San Francisco |
CA |
Net |
81 |
76 |
157 |
10 |
Bill |
Strahan |
Burlingame |
CA |
Net |
73 |
85 |
158 |
|
Sean |
Price |
Discovery Bay |
CA |
Net |
80 |
79 |
159 |
|
Peter |
Hlavin |
Trabuco Canyon |
CA |
Net |
82 |
83 |
165 |
|
Michael |
Schoeder |
Corral de Tierra |
CA |
Net |
80 |
85 |
165 |
|
Andrew |
Brooks |
San Francisco |
CA |
Net |
96 |
87 |
183 |
|
Terry |
O'Donnell |
San Jose |
CA |
Net |
82 |
wd |
|
|
Noel |
Rush |
Pacifica |
CA |
Net |
76 |
wd |
|
ABOUT THE
amateurgolf.com California Mid-Am
125 POINT NCGA EVENT, AND CHAMPION GETS EXEMPTION INTO 2005 STOCKER CUP IN CARMEL, CA ...PLUS, UP TO FIVE EXEMPTIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE INTO THE 2006 TRANS MISS AMATEUR (pending likely approval by the 2006 Trans-Miss Amateur Tournament Committee)
The event: A 36-hole stroke play championship with three divisions.
Players aged 25-39 play in the Mid-Amateur Division.
Players aged 40 to 54 play in the Master Division (they may still compete for NCGA points and the overall mid-Amateur Championship with the 25+ year olds)
Players age 55 and over may compete in the Senior Division. (not eligible for other competitions, as a different set of tees will be utilized) NCGA Points and Senior Points Event- part of the amateurgolf.com Tournament Series.
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