November 11-13
Wilshire CC
Nov. 13, 2019
The wins still keep coming for NCGA Hall of Famer Casey Boyns.
Boyns, who’ll turn 64 in early December, won his second Senior major title of the year Wednesday with a comeback victory at the annual California Senior Amateur Championship at par-71 Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles. The longtime Pebble Beach Golf Links caddie, who was inducted into the NCGA Hall of Fame in 2017 and won this year’s NCGA Senior Amateur Match Play Championship, carded a final round 1-under par 70 to come in with a three-day total of 2-over 215, good enough to beat co-runners-up Craig Davis and Don Dubois by a stroke.
The victory was Boyns’ ninth career NCGA Senior major, putting him just one behind all-time leader Gary Vanier. It also marked his second Cal Senior Am title. He won his first in 2012.
“It feels real good. The older you get, the wins are further and few between,” Boyns said. “It’s nice to come down to the Southland and get a win. I’d never won down here before.”
In what turned out to be a neck-and-neck race to the finish line, Boyns would hold on for the win by making three straight clutch pars to close out his round. Davis, of Chula Vista, had been tied with Boyns but bogeyed the 18th. Dubois had fallen a shot back after bogeying the par-4 12th. Helping Boyns along was a key par save on 17 after being in the greenside bunker. Over the first two rounds, the 17th had been a thorn in his side. He’d played the hole 3-over with a double-bogey and bogey.
“I’d been having trouble with that hole,” said Boyns, who converted the par after sinking a 7-foot putt. “In my mind, I had a one-lead at that point. I figured if I could make pars on the last few holes, I’d be good.”
Boyns was the only player to break par over the last two rounds. In Tuesday’s second round he posted a solid 69 with four birdies and just two bogeys. In the final round, he quickly asserted himself by making an eagle on the par-5 2nd hole.
“I made some putts and that was the difference,” Boyns said. “I sank some bombs.”
Fourth place went to Scott Anderson of Bakersfield at 218 after a final round 73.
Nov. 12, 2019
Reno resident David Nelson will take a one shot lead into Wednesday’s final round of this week’s annual California Senior Amateur Championship.
Playing at par-71 Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles, Nelson posted a second round 74 to come in with a two-day total of 1-over 143. Nelson, who made it to match play at this year’s U.S. Senior Amateur, had started the day a shot behind David Oas of Carlsbad. Oas fell back to ninth place after posting a 78.
Just a shot behind Nelson is Don Dubios, who carded a 69 with three birdies and a bogey.
Just two shots off the lead at is a pack of six players including 2012 winner Casey Boyns, Scott Anderson of Bakersfield and 2013 champ Jim Knoll. Boyns also made a move with a 69, posting four birdies to go against two bogeys. Knoll had a 74 and Anderson a 71.
Only four shots behind at 147 is Jeff Burda. One of only two players to win the event three times (Jim McMurtrey is the other), and the only player to ever win the event three straight times (2008-10), Burda slid into a T-10 spot after a 70.
Defending champ Jeff Wilson, the 2018 NCGA Senior Player of the Year, is T-15 at 149.
The cutline (low 30 and ties) came at 11-over 153.
In the annual North/South Senior Challenge, which pits three of the NCGA’s best players against three players from the SCGA (best two-out-of-three), the SCGA won, 289-299. The SCGA team’s scores were Davis (71), Don Dubois (69) and John Mack (77). Team NCGA (pictured, above) was represented by Senior Player of the Year Randy Haag (80), Wilson (73) and 2019 NCGA Senior winner Mike Rowley (75). Also pictured is team captain and 2020 NCGA President Michael Weeks.
Nov. 11, 2019
Carslbad resident David Oas is the one to chase after opening day of this week’s annual California Senior Amateur at par-71 Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles.
Oas, who plays out of La Costa Resort and Spa, posted a 3-under par 68 featuring six birdies and three bogeys.
In second place, just a stroke back at 69, is Reno resident David Nelson. Nelson, who made it to match play at this year’s U.S. Senior Amateur, penciled in five birdies and three bogeys.
Three players—former multiple NCGA Senior Player of the Year winner Jim Knoll, Newbury Park resident Rob Campbell and Canyon Lake’s Robert Funk—are T-3 at 71. Knoll won the title in 2012 at San Gabriel CC.
Defending champ Jeff Wilson is T-20 after an opening 76.
In the annual North/South Senior Challenge, which pits three of the NCGA’s best players against three players from the SCGA (best two-out-of-three), the SCGA leads, 149-151. The SCGA team’s scores were Craig Davis (74), Don Dubois (75) and John Mack (76). Team NCGA is being represented by Senior Player of the Year Randy Haag (74), 2018 Senior POY Jeff Wilson (75) and 2019 NCGA Senior winner Mike Rowley (79).
The 54-hole championship will conclude Wednesday. Following Tuesday’s second round a cut will be made with the low 30 (and ties) advancing to the final round.
Nov. 6, 2019
PLAYER REGISTRATION
All players must register with SCGA/NCGA staff prior to the start of the championship. For those of you playing a practice round on Sunday, registration will be available from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. If we miss you on Sunday, be sure to stop by the registration table upon arrival on Monday.
PLAYER MEALS
Breakfast will be available for players only beginning at 6:30 a.m. each day of the championship in the Hancock Ballroom. Lunch will be provided for players following play each day. Caddies and spectators may purchase items at the snack bar.
PACE OF PLAY
Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the Pace of Play Policy that will be in effect at the championship.