Oct. 25, 2016
Woodbridge Golf and Country Club member Chuck Richesin finally got his turn at the top.
Richesin came through when it counted the most, posting a stellar 4-under 68 to run away with a win at the annual NCGA Super Senior Championship at par-72 Valley Hi CC in Elk Grove. The win marked the now 67-year-old Richesin’s first NCGA title after decades of playing in tournaments.
“It’s pretty awesome,” said Richesin, who finished the two-day event with a record 36-hole total of 5-under 139. “It’s been a long time coming. The competition is so good out here.”
Playing in the final foursome, Richesin would tee off with defending champion and 2016 NCGA Super Senior Player of the Year Gary Vanier, two-time Senior Player of the Year Mark Miller and 2015 Super Senior Player of the Year Herb Jensen. He’d be the only player in the group to break 73.
Miller had a 73 to finish second at 145. Vanier took third at 146 following a 75 and Jensen slipped back into a tie for fifth with five other players at 150 after a 77.
For Richesin, it was one of those days where everything was meant to be. Having entered the finale tied with Vanier, on the 2nd hole Richesin holed a 40-foot pitch shot for birdie, Two holes later on the par-5 4th, he’d go for the green in two. His shot clipped a tree and looked to be headed for a lake but stopped three yards short of the water. His next shot ended up just 2 feet from the pin, leading to another birdie.
Another birdie on the 7th gave him a front-nine 33. On the back-nine, he’d toss in one more birdie on the par-4 12th. Richesin finished his round bogey-free. Vanier, who shot a record score of 141 in winning in 2015, was never able to make a single birdie, while Miller opened with two straight bogeys.
“I got some really good breaks and I putted the ball around the hole and converted for at least par,” Richesin said.
Bob Olds took fourth place at 148 following his second straight 74.
Oct. 24, 2016
Defending champion Gary Vanier is back on top of the leaderboard, but at least for now he’s got company.
Vanier, the 2016 NCGA Super Senior Player of the Year, shot a 1-under 71 Monday at par-72 Valley Hi Country Club in Elk Grove to share the first round lead at this year’s NCGA Super Senior Championship with Woodbridge G&CC member Chuck Richesin.
Looking to become the first player to win back-to-back Super Senior titles, Vanier was steady, posting four birdies to go against three bogeys.
Richesin, a teammate of Vanier’s at the recent Staedler-Jetter Cup, also carded four birdies and three bogeys.
Chuck Richesin
The two co-leaders don’t have much wiggle room. Just a stroke behind following a 72 is two-time NCGA Senior Player of the Year (2009-2010) Mark Miller. Miller, who’s playing his first full season as a Super Senior (age 65-over), went 3-under through holes No.4-No.7. He’d also go 3-over on holes No.1-No.3.
Only two shots back after matching opening scores of 73 are Bob Rowland and 2015 NCGA Super Senior Player of the Year Herb Jensen.
Another three players, including Bob Olds, are only three off the lead following opening rounds of 74.
Tuesday’s final round will tee off at 8:30 a.m.