Oct. 27, 2019
Belmont Country Club locked up its first NCGA Team Match in style. The Belmont CC squad jumped out to a quick 15-5 lead and never looked back, defeating North Ridge CC, 24-12, in Sunday’s Finals at par-72 Poppy Hills Golf Course.
Among those notching early victories for the Thursday League champion Belmont CC squad in Singles were Ryan Lancaster (1-up), Robert Chaplain (5 and 4) and Rocky Steagall (2 and 1). Lancaster also teamed up with captain Byron Johnson for a 2-up win in Four-Ball. Also winning early for Belmont CC in Four-Ball were Chaplain and Steagall.
Later, Belmont also got wins by Craig Takemoto (3 and 2) and Jon Papaleo (7 and 5) to take a commanding lead. A 3 and 2 victory by Terry Trout gave Belmont CC a 19-5 lead, sealing the deal.
Belmont CC competed during the season in honor of former team member Del Walker, who passed away earlier this year. In tribute, the Belmont CC players’ uniforms had ‘DW’ sewn into the shoulder part of their sleeve.
“It was a wonderful season. I think everyone was very motivated by losing Del,” Johnson said. “Everyone wanted to really win it. Everyone has so much heart on this team, and we’re very cohesive.”
North Ridge CC (pictured below), the Saturday League champs, got wins from among others Steve Galster (8 and 7) and Christian Petersen (5 and 4) in Singles and Galster and Dustin Buck (6 and 5) in Four-Ball.
Team Match Program is a competition between players that belong to regular NCGA member clubs. Events use 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.
Oakhurst CC (pictured below) finished in third place.
Oct. 26, 2019
Thursday League Finals (Oakhurst CC vs. Belmont CC)
Belmont CC is on its way to the Championship Finals after a decisive, 25-11, victory over Oakhurst CC in the Thursday League finals.
Belmont CC won eight of the 12 Singles matches to take a commanding lead. Included in the victories were big wins by Craig Takemoto (5 and 4), Byron Johnson (6 and 5) and Terry Trout (5 and 4). The team also got four 2 and 1 wins by Ryan Lancaster, John Papaleo, Steve Souza and Kurt Montgomery.
The Four-Ball matches were also dominated by Belmont, who won four of them. The lone halve was a match between Mike Chen and Al Aragon vs. Joe Tatum and Kelly Lynch.
Belmont CC is competing this year in honor of former team member Del Walker, who passed away earlier this year. Walker played on the 2015 Belmont team which was runner-up in the Thursday League.
Saturday League Finals (North Ridge CC vs. Eagle Springs GC)
North Ridge CC got to relax and prepare for the Championship finale. North Ridge CC won the Saturday League crown without having to even tee it up, as Eagle Springs GC was disqualified from play due to handicap index infractions.
It marked the first time in the 31-year history of the event that a team was disqualified due to handicap manipulation.
Photo Gallery
Team Match Program is a competition between players that belong to regular NCGA member clubs. Events use 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.
