April 21, 2015
Tracy Golf and Country Club ran away with the title at the annual NCGA Central Valley Zone Championship.
Tracy G&CC posted its second straight double-digit under par number, an 11-under 129, to cruise to an eight stroke win Tuesday at par-70 Carmel Valley Ranch. In what became a race for second place, Swenson Park GC had a 127 to edge third place finisher Dryden Park GC by a stroke.
2015 Central Valley Zone champion Tracy Golf and Country Club.
Thanks to their one-two finish, both Tracy G&CC and Swenson Park earned automatic spots into this year’s NCGA Zone Championship, slated for August 24-25 at Spyglass Hill and Poppy Hills.
The winning Tracy G&CC squad, made up of teammates Kevin Mahoney, Jim Perkins, Jeff Goltz and Dean Howard, was again solid, carding five eagles and four birdies to go with two bogeys and a double-bogey to finish the 36-hole event with a score of 28-under 254. In the first round, playing in a format that takes the two best net scores per hole of a four-man team, the squad grabbed a commanding five shot lead after shooting a 17-under 125 at par-71 Poppy Hills. Over their 36 holes, Tracy G&CC’s red figures included 12 eagles and seven birdies.
While Tracy G&CC was playing hide and seek, seven other squads aimed for second place. The Swenson Park GC team (Jere Snyder, John Snyder, Lance Rieber and Roger Brandt), which was coming off an opening round 135, made its move by carding eight eagles and two birdies to go against two bogeys and two double-bogeys. Having started their round on the back-nine, Swenson Park turned it on in crunch time. The team would card five of its eagles on the front-nine after making the turn.
Dryden Park GC (Jesse Perez, Brandon Dunn, Ed Chacon and Richard Hicks ), which had started the day holding a two-stroke edge over Swenson Park after a first round 133 at Poppy Hills, fell back to third after carding a 10-under 130. The team again played well, posting three eagles and six birdies with only two bogeys, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the hotter Swenson Park squad.
Also trying to hang in there was Rancho Del Rey GC and Oakdale G&CC. Rancho Del Rey, who’d entered the final round alone in second place, slipped all the way into a tie for sixth after a 136.The Oakdale G&CC squad, which came into the finale alone in third place, shot a 133 to fall back into fourth place.
2015 Central Valley Zone runner-up Swenson Park GC.
Other teams that were in the mix for second place were Legends West at Diablo Grande, who placed fifth after a 131, and River Oaks GC and Spring Creek G&CC, who joined Rancho Del Rey at T-6 following rounds of 129 and 134, respectively.
April 20, 2015
Tracy Golf and Country Club is trying to make sure that no one will be able to catch them.
Tracy G&CC, made up of teammates Kevin Mahoney, Jim Perkins, Jeff Goltz and Dean Howard, took a commanding five stroke lead in the first round of the annual NCGA Central Valley Zone Championship, posting a 17-under 125 at par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Course.
Playing in a format that takes the two best net scores per hole of a four-man team, Tracy G&CC rang up seven eagles and three birdies to go with just one bogey. Four of the team’s seven eagles came on Poppy’s front-nine, which plays harder than the back-nine.
In at 130, and five behind the leaders, is Rancho Del Rey Golf Club. Rancho Del Rey GC, comprised of teammates Rich Howard, Michael Harris, Rodney Rodenberg and Larry Russell, had six eagles and two birdies, but also a bogey and double-bogey.
Just a stroke back of Rancho Del Rey GC at 131 is Oakdale Golf and Country Club. The Oakdale G&CC squad (Roger Intorf, Steve Nelson, Wade Wheatley and Mark Layton), which finished runner-up last year, penciled in three eagles and six birdies to go with three bogeys.
Only the two top teams will earn spots in this year’s NCGA Zone Championship, which is slated for August 24-25 at Spyglass Hill and Poppy Hills.
In fourth place at 132 is Spring Creek Golf and Country Club. Defending champion Dryden Park Golf Club is in fifth place at 133.
Tuesday’s final round will see play shift to par-70 Carmel Valley Ranch.
Last year, Dryden Park GC and Oakdale G&CC earned spots into the championship proper.
