LOGIN  |  JOIN  |  INFO  |  BENEFITS
AGC California Mid-Am at Stevinson Ranch: Final Results
From Left: Bruce Hanavan, Niger, Randy Haag, Robert Funk
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.

View Complete Tournament Information

Latest in 

Amateurgolf.com, Inc.
6965 El Camino Real 105-631
Carlsbad, CA 92009

Instagram X Facebook YouTube