April 28, 2015
A day after brilliant sunshine the fog rolled in at par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Course, but that didn’t stop champions from being crowned at the annual NCGA Public Links Net Championship.
In the Chardonnay Flight (handicap index 9.7-below), Ken Gosselin of Bennett Valley GC made it a wire-to-wire, shooting a final round, even-par 71 to cruise to a six-stroke victory. Coming off a 2-under first round 70 at Spyglass Hill, Gosselin crawled out of the gates, opening with four straight bogeys. From hole No.5 on, however, he’d go 4-under thanks to an eagle on the par-4 12th and five birdies to finish with a two-day total of 2-under 141.
Chardonnay Flight champ Ken Gosselin, runner-up Vincent Delfino and third place finisher Andy Nordhoff (left to right).
Finishing in second place at 147 following a final round 74 was Sunnyvale GC member Vincent Delfino. Delfino was able to post an eagle and two birdies, but also had three bogeys and two double-bogeys.
Third place in the Chardonnay Flight went to Bushwood CC member Andy Nordhoff, who came in at 148 following a 73. John Doyle of Lake Chabot GC placed fourth at 152 after a 77. Three players–Billy Witt, Reginald Rodrigues and Naresh Dhadhal–all came in T-5 with matching final scores of 153.
Over in the Merlot Flight (handicap index 9.8-13.4), Manuel Herrera, a member at Riverside of Fresno GC, also managed to go wire-to-wire. Herrera, who was tied with Matt Korpela at 71 after Monday’s first round, shot 72 to knock off runner-up David Nelson of Ibew 595 and Friends by five strokes.
Herrera’s day at Poppy Hills featured an eagle on the par-5 9th and four birdies to go with five bogeys and a double-bogey.
Nelson, who shot 75, had a much crazier round, posting eight birdies but also two bogeys, two double-bogeys and two triple-bogeys.
Merlot flight champ Manuel Herrera.
Finishing alone in third place in the Merlot Flight was East Bay Coaches member Paul Ventimiglio, who came in at 151 after a final round 76. Fourth place went to Rafael Valencia of Northwood GC at 153 while fifth place was claimed by Scott Patterson of The Ridge GC at 153. Korpela, a member at Creekside GC, had a rough second round, posting a 92 to drop to 25th place.
In the Zinfandel Flight ((handicap index 13.5 and above), first round leader Jeff Benrey E-Club South Bay also held on for the victory. Benrey, who opened with a 71 at Spyglass Hill, shot a 3-under 68 at Poppy Hills to claim a five shot win over runner-up Randall Selland.
Benrey was simply steady, carding five birdies to go with just a pair of bogeys.
Selland, who plays out of Diablo Grande GC, had a second straight 72 that included five birdies, four bogeys and a double-bogey.
Third place in the Zinfandel Flight went to Ibew 595 and Friends member Tom Mojzes, who shot a final round 73 to come in at 146.
Zinfandel Flight champ Jeff Benrey, runner-up Randall Selland and third place finisher Tom Mojzes (left to right).
Fourth place went to Brett Johnson of Wildhorse GC at 147 and fifth place went to Joel Tyrus of Summitpointe CC at 152.
April 27, 2015
Players started putting themselves in position for a run at the title as competition began Monday in the annual NCGA Public Links Net Championship at par-72 Spyglass Hill Golf Course.
In the Chardonnay Flight (handicap index 9.7-below), Ken Gosselin of Bennett Valley GC took the lead with a stellar 2-under 70 in what was perfect conditions at the seaside layout. Gosselin’s round included an eagle on the par-4 13th, four birdies and just one bogey.
Currently in second place, just three shots behind after opening rounds of 73, are both Grant Sparkes and Vincent Delfino. Sparkes, playing out of Bridges GC, had an up and down day, posting seven birdies but also three bogeys, a double-bogey and a triple-bogey on the par-3 5th. Delfino, a member at Sunnyvale GC, also had somewhat of a wild day, penciling in five birdies to go with four bogeys and a double-bogey.
Alone in fourth place in the Chardonnay Flight after a 74 is Chris DiGiacomo. The Regal of San Francisco member posted six birdies but also had two bogeys, a double-bogey and a triple-bogey.
Five players-John Doyle, Reginald Rodrigues, Naresh Dhadhal, Blake Mori and Andy Nordhoff– are five shots behind after opening with identical 75’s.
Over in the Merlot Flight (handicap index 9.8-13.4), both Manuel Herrera and Matt Korpela sit tied at the top after both came in with matching scores of 71.
Herrera, who’s playing out of Riverside of Fresno GC, had a pair of eagles (holes No.4 and No.16) and two birdies to go with five bogeys. Korpela, a member at Creekside GC, had one eagle (No.7) and five birdies to go with two bogeys and two double-bogeys.
Breathing down the two players’ necks is a group of four players-Ray Nakatani, David Nelson, Bob Vernon and Lionel Fernandez– who are just two shots back after opening with 73’s. Nakatani, playing out of Wildhorse GC, made his move with three eagles (holes No.2, No.4 and No.8) while Nelson, a member of Ibew 595 and Friends, had an eagle and six birdies. Vernon, an AmateurGolf.com member, was more steady, posting 12 pars, while Fernandez, an E-Club East Bay member, had an eagle and six birdies.
Others lurking in the Merlot Flight are E-Club San Francisco member David Diniz (74) and Damon Hope, Scott Patterson and Paul Ventimiglio, who all are T-8 after opening scores of 75.
In the Zinfandel Flight (handicap index 13.5 and above), E-Club South Bay member Jeff Benrey took the lead, posting a 71 that included an opening eagle on the par-5 1st, three birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey.
While Benrey sits atop the leaderboard, Randall Selland, playing out of Diablo Grande GC, is just one back after a 72. Selland had five birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey.
A pack of five players–Tom Mojzes, Richard Zuk, Joel Tyrus, Michael Citta and Matt Smithmeir–who are also just two back after opening with 73’s. Also lurking are Jeff Sanderson and Jim Banaria, who are both three behind after opening with 74’s.
Tuesday’s final round will be held at par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Course.