16th Annual NCGA Senior Four-Ball Net Championship

Pairings – Player Information – Results

September 23, 2014

Silverado GC was caught, but still managed to walk away with the victory.

Silverado GC, made up of teammates Peter Stephens and Ken Marciano, shot a final round 9-under 63 and won a three-team playoff via a Maricano birdie putt on the first extra hole to capture the annual NCGA Senior Four-Ball Net Championship Tuesday at par-72 Poppy Ridge Golf Course.

Having a shot a blistering 14-under 58 on the front-nines of both the Chardonnay and Zinfandel courses on Monday, everyone thought that Silverado GC would waltz its way to the title in the second round. Instead, Stephens and Marciano had to dance a jig.

While the twosome carded a 63, both Whitney Oaks GC and Modesto GC carded identical 60’s to forge a three-way tie after regulation at 23-under 121. Marciano put a quick end to things, draining a 10-footer for a natural birdie on the first playoff hole (No.1 of Zinfandel). Doug King of Whitney Oaks also had a birdie try after his approach shot hit the flagstick, but his 6-foot birdie try missed.

“It feels good to win, because we were leading the first day and we wanted to show well the second day,” Marciano said. “It became quite a dogfight.”

The drama started when Whitney Oaks, who had entered the final round three shots behind the leaders, caught Silverado GC on only the third hole. From there, the two see-sawed back and forth. At the same time, Modesto GC began entering the picture.

What saved Silverado GC to begin with was a back-nine 28 on what was the front-nine of Zinfandel. Stephens and Marciano carded six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 5th on the back, it all coming after a so-so front-nine 35 where they only carded two birdies.

Fueling their back-nine surge was a critical 60-foot birdie putt that Marciano delivered on the par-3 7th.

“We knew that front-nine 35 wasn’t going to get us anything,” said Stephens, a retired tax attorney. “Then we got the 28 and Kenny made the putt. It was a great turnaround.”

Whitney Oaks GC, comprised of King and Charles Roberts, posted an eagle and 11 birdies in making its run. Their lone miscue was a bogey on the par-4 5th hole of the Zinfandel course. Modesto GC, made up of Richard Hicks and Phil Dodge, made its charge with 12 birdies against zero bogeys.

In what turned out to be a coin toss (after multiple card-offs were a tie), Modesto GC was awarded second place.

Just missing out on the playoff was the Benbow GC tandem of Rich Staples and Pat Goodman, who came in at 22-under 121 following a final round 60. During their round, the Benbow GC team missed a one-footer for par. They also once unintentionally moved their ball with a putter, costing them another critical stroke.

Callippe Senior GC (Tom Deroza and Patrick Murphy) and Morgan Creek GC (Brad Ables and Mike Martinez) finished T-5 at 124 after matching final rounds of 62.

 

September 22, 2014

A nearly perfect back-nine has made Silverado GC the team to catch at the annual NCGA Senior Four-Ball Net Championship.

Peter Stephens and Kenneth Marciano, the two parts of Silverado GC, jumped into the lead at this week’s championship at par-72 Poppy Ridge on Monday, carding a net 14-under 58 on the front-nines of the Chardonnay and Zinfandel courses. Modesto GC and Whitney Oaks GC are both tied for second at 61, three behind the leaders.

Stephens and Marciano’s big move of the day came on their back-nine, which was the front-nine of the Zinfandel course. There, the duo finished with seven straight birdies to close out their round. Prior to putting together the run, Stephens and Marciano were at a total of 7-under.

The two also shot a 29 on the front-nine of the Chardonnay course, posting an eagle on the par-5 5th to go with five birdies.

Modesto GC, represented by the tandem of Richard Hicks and Phil Dodge,  also tore up the Zinfandel nine, penciling in eight birdies to go with a par. On their front-nine, the pair had to settle for a 33 after carding four birdies, four pars and a bogey.

Whitney Oaks GC, made up of teammates Charles Roberts and Douglas King, also took advantage of the Zinfandel nine. The pair posted five birdies, including an eagle on the par-5 17th, for a 29. On their front-nine, Roberts and King had five birdies, three pars and a bogey (on the opening 1st).

Six squads–Morgan Creek GC, Benbow GC, Legends West GC, Brentwood GC, eClub Central Valley and Calippe Senior GC– are four back, tied at 62. Buchanan Fields GC is at 63.

Tuesday’s final round will begin at 7 a.m.