October 6, 2015
Years after playing together in little league, childhood pals Scott Olds and Kip Yaughn proved to be a lethal duo on the golf course.
Olds, a member at Antioch GC, and Yaughn, who plays out of Oakhurst GC, carded their second straight 8-under 64 Tuesday at Poppy Ridge GC, leading to a win in the 12th annual NCGA Masters Division Four-Ball Championship.
The duo’s two-day score of 16-under 128 tied the tournament record, set by 2014 winners Scott Anderson and Mark Pavletich and runner-ups Jon Peterson and Eddie Davis, who lost in a playoff.
The tandem of Paul Rice and Rick Taniguchi were second at 131 following a final round 63.
“It’s awesome,” Olds said. “Growing up together makes it even better.”
Olds and Yaughn made their team debut at last year’s Master Division Four-Ball. They’d finish in sixth place.
“Last year when we partnered up Scott said he’d get me a medal,” Yaughn said. “He followed through big time.”
The two 46-year-olds ended up carrying each other. In Monday’s first round, Olds shot a 66 on his own ball. A day later it was Yaughn’s turn, as he’d card a 69 on his own ball.
Having entered the final round with a two stroke lead over three teams, Olds and Yaughn started somewhat slowly, posting a front-nine 33.
The sluggish start enabled the team of Dominic DeBellis and Andy Nevin, who were also in the final foursome, to get within two shots after the 1oth hole. Rice and Taniguchi, meanwhile, were a shot behind the leaders.
Champions Scott Olds and Kip Yaughn and third place finishers Jim Williams and Mike Staskus (left to right).
The difference would be a late Olds/Yaughn push that included sets of back-to-back birdies on holes No.13 and No.14 and No.16 and No17.
Rice and Taniguchi played their final eight holes at 2-under. DeBellis and Nevin went 2-over through the last eight holes en route to a 70.
“We had our chances,” DeBellis said. “I made a birdie on No.10 and Scott (Olds) was 10-feet above the hole. So we’re thinking we’re going to gain a shot. Then Scott knocked it in. They both played really well. We just couldn’t get any putts to drop.”
Yaughn’s baseball career went far enough that he would be drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and then-Florida Marlins as a pitcher.
Now that his career on the diamond is over, he’s playing more golf. It appears he’s found the perfect partner in Olds.
“We’re getting more used to playing together,” Yaughn said.
Third place went to the team of Mike Staskus and Jim Williams, who also had a final round 63.
October 5, 2015
Scott Olds and Kip Yaughn grabbed the first round lead, but there’s another day to go and there’s a pack of former champions within easy striking distance.
Olds and Yaughn took the first round lead in the annual Master Division Four-Ball Championship on Monday, posting an 8-under 64 at par-72 Poppy ridge Golf Course (Chardonnay/Zinfandel).
The duo was solid, posting an eagle (on the par-5 9th on Chardonnay) to go with seven birdies to go against just one bogey on the par-3 11th of the Zinfandel course.
They also have plenty of company at the top.
Three teams–the tandems of Dominic DeBellis/Andy Nevin, Chris Griggs/Craig Miyamoto and Scott Terry/John Driver–are all just two behind the leaders after opening with matching 66’s. Driver won the rain-shortened 2009 event playing with Ken Helwig.
In at 67, and just three behind, is another trio of teams–Jeff Heitt/John Hernandez, Mark Casey/Steve Wilson and defending champions Mark Pavletich/Scott Anderson. Paveltich and Anderson won at Poppy Ridge last year with a record score of 16-under 128 (64-64).
At 68 is four teams including the tandems of Dale Bouguennec/Jamie Looper and Jeff/Gilchrist/Steve Woods. Bouguennec just won the recent NCGA Senior Valley Amateur title, while Looper won the 2007 Master Division Four-Ball with then-partner Jeff Burda.
Gilchrist and Woods won the 2013 title at Bayonet/Black Horse GC.
Tuesday’s final round will begin at 8 a.m.
