Oct. 23, 2016
2016 champions Stonetree GC
Stonetree Golf Club of Novato finally has its first NCGA Team Match Championship.
The Stonetree GC squad put on a clinic in Sunday’s Overall Championship match at par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Course, defeating runner-up and Thursday Finals winner Oakhurst CC of Clayton, 28-8.
In 2012, Stonetree GC was the Saturday Finals champ, but they’d fall in the Overall Championship to Whitney Oaks. Oakhurst CC was the defending champion, having won its first overall title last year.
It’s the first time a Saturday Finals champ has won the overall crown since 2009.
“It feels fantastic. It’s a lot of hard work,” said Stonetree GC captain Chris Hyland. “We’ve all be here since Thursday getting ready.”
Stonetree GC left no doubt, racing out to an early 9-3 lead when Hyland won his match and partner Roy Gulick got a halve. The two also won their Four-Ball match. Their victory was quickly followed by a win by Nick Mahoney and a win by Mahoney and partner Tom Dillon in Four-Ball.
Later, Joseph Amadea and Phil Green swept their matches, giving Stonetree GC a 15-3 lead. Stonetree GC clinched the victory, taking a 19-5 lead, when Rune Jensen and partner Nickolai Mathison won their Four-Ball match and teammate Mark Nelson won his match.
Stonetree GC only began Saturday Team Match play in 2011. Six players from that runner-up 2012 squad are still on the roster.
“That helped a lot. Those guys have that experience,” Hyland said.
The championship uses a format where two players from a side face off against two players from an opposing side in four-ball and individual matches concurrently, with players earning two points for a win and one point for a halve.
Runner-up Oakhurst CC
Third Place Match
Spring Creek GC took complete control early and never looked back, beating Diablo Grande, 28-8.
The Spring Creek squad, which won the overall title in 2003 and 2007, raced out to a 10-2 lead when Mike Stieler and Sean King both won their matches and Four-Ball match and Mark Schroen and Luke Sanny picked up wins in their matches.
The lead later mushroomed to 16-2 following Spring Creek wins by Mark Wiebe and Keith Rankins. Later, Spring Creek would clinch the title when Nate Bogetti and Danny Thomas swept their matches for a 24-2 lead.
Third place Spring Creek GC
Fourth place Diablo Grande
Oct. 22, 2016
Oakhurst Country Club in Clayton apparently wasn’t satisfied with just one win.
The defending champion Oakurst CC Ssquad secured its second straight trip to the NCGA Team Match finals, defeating Spring Creek GC, 23-13, in the Saturday finals at par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Course.
In Sunday’s final, Oakhurst will take on Stonetree GC of Novato. Stonetree won the Thursday Finals, defeating Diablo Grande GC, 26-10.
Stonetree GC is looking for its first Team Match title. In 2012, they’d reach the finals but lost to champion Whitney Oaks.
The championship uses a format where two players from a side face off against two players from an opposing side in four-ball and individual matches concurrently, with players earning two points for a win and one point for a halve.
Thursday Finals
Oakhurst CC took command early and never let up, defeating Spring Creek GC, 23-13.
The Oakhurst squad jumped to a quick 10-0 lead when Renata Young and foursomes partner Kevin Chambers won both their matches and Four-Ball match. Also picking up an early win for Oakhurst was Fred Leach, who added a win in Four-Ball with partner Chuck Beesley.
Spring Creek GC cut into the lead, making it 10-4 thanks to a win by Glen Stubblefied and Four-Ball victory by Stubblefield and partner Mike Stieler, but Oakhurst’s Vern McCalla won his match to make it 12-4.
Oakhurst later clinched the title, getting to 20 points (teams need at least 19 points to win outright) following a win by Rory Janes. Janes also won his Four-Ball match with partner Tony Martin.
Saturday Finals
Stonetree GC left no doubt in the Saturday Finals, cruising to a 26-10 victory over Diablo Grande GC.
The Stonetree squad jumped out to a commanding 14-0 lead courtesy of Chris Hyland and Roy Gulick wins in both their matches and Four-Ball and another sweep by Tom Dillon and Nick Mahoney. Also picking up two early points for Stonetree was Nickolai Mathison.
Mathison and foursome partner Rune Jensen soon afterwards also won their Four-Ball match to give Stonetree a 20-2 lead, clinching the title. Mathison also won his match.
