March 25, 2017
The sun came out at Poppy Hills Golf Course and winners picked up shiny medals as the 2017 NCGA Mixed Team Spring Championship concluded on Saturday.
Big Sur Flight (Handicap Index 9-Below)
Big Sur Flight champs Itsuko Moridaira and Takeshi Usuzaka, runner-ups Dorothy and Steve Donnelly and third place finishers Angie and John Friedrich (left to right)
Green Valley resident Itsuko Moridaira and Takeshi Usuzaka went low to come back and take the title. Moridaira and Usuzaka carded a final round 5-under 66 to finish tied with Dorothy and Steve Donnelly after regulation at 7-under 135. In a sudden-death playoff on the 10th hole, Moridaira and Usuzaka made par to win.
In their final round, Moridaira and Usuzaka were nearly flawless, posting two eagles and three birdies to go against just two bogeys. The Donnellys, who were coming off a first round 68, shot a 67 that featured an eagle and three birdies to go against one bogey. Angie and John Friedrich, who like the Donnellys are former winners of the event, fired a 64 to claim third place.
Golden Gate Flight (Handicap Index 10-17)
Golden Gate Flight champs Suezette van Staden and Robert Bonin, runner-ups Cindy Aafedt and William Henry, Jr. and third place finishers Lauren Barr and John Wang (left to right)
Suezette van Staden and Robert Bonin ran away to where they couldn’t be caught. Van Staden and Bonin fired a sizzling 10-under 61 that included two eagles and seven birdies (with just one bogey) to finish at 8-under 134, winning the Golden Gate crown by four shots.
The tandem of Cindy Aafedt and William Henry, Jr. claimed second place at 138 following a final round 68. Third place went to Lauren Barr and John Wang at 140 after a final round 69.
Yosemite Flight (Handicap Index 18-Above)
Yosemite Flight champs Jim and Sasa Puchbauer, runner-ups Vicent and Janice Yoshimoto and third place finishers Faye and Dennis Donaghu (left to right)
Sasa and Jim Puchbauer returned to the top of the winners’ circle. The Puchbauers, who won the Yosemite title in 2015, shot a final round 5-under 66 to come in at 135, winning the Yosemite Flight crown by six shots.
In the finale, the Puchbauers carded seven birdies to go against just two bogeys. The 61 is the lowest final round score for any winning Flight in the event’s 5-year history.
The teams of Janice and Vincent Yoshimoto and Faye and Dennis Donaghu finished tied for second after regulation at 141 following rounds of 69 and 71, respectively. The Yoshimotos claimed second place alone following a card-off.
March 24, 2017
Winter conditions greeted the field for the 2017 NCGA Mixed Team Spring Championship, but it didn’t stop the field from competing. Here’s how things stacked up after Friday’s first round at par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Course.
Big Sur Flight (Handicap Index 9-Below)
Locals Dorothy and Steve Donnelly grabbed the first round lead, but they’ve got plenty of company. The Donnellys, who won the Mixed Team Fall title in 2014, opened with a solid 68 that featured an eagle on the par-4 7th and four birdies to go against one bogey and a double-bogey.
Tied for second at 69, just one stroke back, are the teams of Jennie and Ken Noonan and Itsuko Moridaira and Takeshi Usuzaka. The Noonans had an eagle on the opening par-5 1st hole, while Moridaira and Usuzaka posted five birdies. In fourth place at 70 is the tandem of Lauren Todd-Mariano and Ryan Mariano.
Golden Gate Flight (Handicap Index 10-17)
The pair of Suzy Duarte and Carlos Cardona took the early lead, posting an opening score of 2-under 69. Duarte and Cardona carded an eagle on the par-5 18th and added five birdies to go against five bogeys.
Tied for second are the tandems of Karen Treat and Robert Harley and Cindy Aafeldt and William Henry, Jr. Treat and Harley eagled the par-5 13th and added six birdies, while Aafeldt and Henry, Jr. carded five birdies. Alone in fourth place, just two shots behind the leaders, is the tandem of Lauren Barr and John Wang.
Yosemite Flight (Handicap Index 18-Above)
Cindie Young and Mike Winkenbach will have a shot at a double-double. Young and Winkenbach, who won the title at the 2016 Mixed Team Fall Championship, jumped to the lead with a 3-under 68. The duo posted two eagles (holes No.1 and No. 13) and five birdies to go against four bogeys and a double-bogey.
Alone in second place at 69 is the tandem of Jim and Sasa Puchbauer. The Puchbauers had a wild day, carding an eagle and seven birdies but also three bogeys and two double-bogeys. In third place at 70 is the team of Janice and Vincent Yoshimoto.