October 24, 2014
Chalk up another big amateur win for Las Vegas resident Brady Exber.
Exber, winner of this year’s British Senior Amateur, shot a final round 73 and defeated Herbie Aikens on the first playoff hole (No.10) with a par to capture the annual Stocker Cup Championship title Friday at par-72 Sonoma Golf Club.
A member of the Southern Nevada Golf Association Hall of Fame, Exber finished the three-day, 54-hole event with a total of 32-under 213. He had entered Friday’s final round holding a three stroke lead over Aikens and Fairfield resident Jeff Wilson.
In the finale, Aikens had two bogeys but also three birdies. That would open the door for Aikens.
Longtime amateur great Brady Exber won his first Stocker Cup title.
Aikens, winner of this year’s Massachusetts Mid-Amateur and Public Links Championship, took advantage of the opportunity, posting a 70 that included five birdies and three bogeys to forge a tie at the top after regulation. Aikens’ run would come to an end, however, when he was unable to match Exber’s par.
Wilson, the second lowest amateur at this year’s U.S. Senior Open and the low am at the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, slipped to a tie for fourth after posting a 74.
Defending champion John Sawin of San Francisco had a day-low 4-under 68, pushing him to a solo third place finish.
Joining Wilson at 217 were Brad Wilder (72) of Kentucky and Jason Anthony (70) of Fairfield. Earlier in the week, Anthony helped the NCGA claim its ninth straight crown in the annual Hanna-Wehrman Cup.
In the Ruth Barry Stocker Cup (team play), Exber and ‘B’ player partner Jim Fisher had a final round 67 to finish at 17-under 199 and win by five over the tandem of Bryan Hoops and Chris Strahan. Hoops and Strahan shot 68 to come in at 204.
The teams of Shane Sigsbee/Erick Stocker (69) and Jerry Ledzinski/Pete Wlodkowski (73) finished T-3 at 207.
Played in memory of Peter Stocker, the Stocker Cup has been held each October at The Preserve Golf Club in Carmel since 2000. Due to the severe drought, for 2014 Sonoma Golf Club was chosen as the host venue.
The field is comprised of 50 world- class mid-amateur invitees, (A players) who play an individual 54-hole stroke play competition and simultaneous team event. For the team portion of the event, the A players are paired with a B player (handicap 0-12.5) who include relatives and associates of the late Peter Stocker, as well as participants invited by the A players.
October 23, 2014
Las Vegas resident Brady Exber just recently won big when he captured this year’s British Senior Amateur. Now, he’s in line to capture another top amateur prize.
Exber, a member of the Southern Nevada Golf Association Hall of Fame, shot an even-par second round 72 Thursday at Sonoma Golf Club to take a three-stroke lead into Friday’s final round of the annual Stocker Cup. A three-time winner this season, Exber’s 72 gave him a two-day total of 4-under 140 and a three shot cushion over Herbie Aikens and Jeff Wilson, who are tied for second at 143 after rounds of 73 and 69, respectively.
A day after carding a 68, Exber’s pace slowed down but he was still steady, carding four birdies to go with four bogeys. Now in its 23rd year, a win at the Stocker Cup is one title missing from Exber’s resume.
Aikens, winner of this year’s Massachusetts Mid-Amateur and Public Links Championship, didn’t get off to a great start, carding a bogey on the 2nd and a double-bogey on No.3. He’d rebound by playing his next 15 holes at 2-under thanks to four birdies.
Wilson, who was the second lowest amateur at this year’s U.S. Senior Open, made his move by shooting a 3-under 33 on the front-nine that featured five birdies and three bogeys. On his back-nine, the Fairfield resident had a birdie and a bogey.
In at 145, five behind Exber, are five players including Las Vegas resident Shane Sigsbee, Jerry Ledzinski of Carmel and Hillsborough’s Nick Ushijima.
Sigsbee, who reached the Round of 16 at this year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur, shot 73. Ledzinski, a co-runner up at the 2011 Stocker Cup, had 75 and Ushijima shot 71.
Defending champion John Sawin shot 71 to move to a 36-hole total of 148.
Played in memory of Peter Stocker, the Stocker Cup has been held each October at The Preserve Golf Club in Carmel since 2000. Due to the severe drought, for 2014 Sonoma Golf Club was chosen as the host venue.
The field is comprised of 50 world- class mid-amateur invitees, (A players) who play an individual 54-hole stroke play competition and simultaneous team event. For the team portion of the event, the A players are paired with a B player (handicap 0-12.5) who include relatives and associates of the late Peter Stocker, as well as participants invited by the A players.
In the Ruth Barry Stocker Cup (team play), Exber and ‘B’ player/partner Jim Fisher are leading at 12-under after their second straight 66. Ledzinski and partner Pete Wlodkowski are in second at 134 after a 66.
October 22, 2014
Brady Exber of Las Vegas grabbed the lead at this week’s Stocker Cup, posting a 4-under 68 in Wednesday’s first round at par-72 Sonoma Golf Club.
Exber, a member of the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame, had a front-nine 32 that included four birdies. On his back-nine, Exber added two more birdies on holes No. 10 and No.14 to get to 6-under, but he’d also double-bogey the 15th.
Brady Exber had four birdies on his front-nine.
Jerry Ledzinski of Carmel, who finished T-2 in the 2011 Stocker Cup, is two behind after opening with a 70 that featured birdies on No.13 and No.17. Herbie Aikens, who captured this year’s Massachusetts Mid-Amateur and Public Links Championships, also carded a first round 70.
San Rafael resident Kevin Kobalter, winner of the 2007 NCGA Four-Ball, shot 71.
Played in memory of Peter Stocker, the Stocker Cup has been held each October at The Preserve Golf Club in Carmel since 2000. Due to the severe drought, for 2014 Sonoma Golf Club was chosen as the host venue.
The field is comprised of 50 world- class mid-amateur invitees, (A players) who play an individual 54-hole stroke play competition and simultaneous team event. For the team portion of the event, the A players are paired with a B player (handicap 0-12.5) who include relatives and associates of the late Peter Stocker, as well as participants invited by the A players.
Last year, John Sawin of San Francisco finished at 8-under 208 (70-71-67) to win by four strokes over Kevin Marsh. Marsh had won three of the previous four Stocker Cups.
In the Ruth Barry Stocker Cup (team play), a trio of squads finished the day tied atop the leaderboard with matching scores of 8-under 64. The three tandems are Brady Exber/Jim Fisher, Mark Mance/Scott Clark and Nick Ushijima/Andrew Doll.