the second-most Senior Player of the Year points in NCGA history during the 2012 season. The only better year? The one Knoll put together in 2011. “The last two years have been a whirlwind,” said Knoll, who credits switch- ing to a claw putting grip for his recent success. “I’m putting a lot better than I ever did, and it’s really been a big difference in my game.” Knoll won his second straight
Masters,” Knoll said. “Then it looked like it was going to be between Casey and me down the stretch.” Knoll fi nished
the season holding off Jim Knoll
Senior Player of the Year award, collecting seven tournament titles and holding off Casey Boyns by 336 points. Knoll’s breakthrough win came at the NCGA Master Division Championship in July, when he became the event’s oldest champion, just six weeks shy of his 60th birthday. The win was his fi fth unique NCGA major, and sixth major overall. “I didn’t start looking at the points standings until I won the
Jim Knoll
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Hometown: Sunnyvale Home club: Rooster Run Points total: 2,486 Margin of victory: 336 over Casey Boyns Biggest win: NCGA Master Division Championship 2012 wins (7): NCGA Master Division Championship; Sacramento City Senior; Monterey City Senior; Antioch City Senior; Salinas City Senior Match Play; amateurgolf.com – Christmas Senior Classic; Roddy Ranch Senior Four-Ball 2012 notable fi nishes: 5th CGA Senior Amateur; T6 NCGA Senior Championship; 2nd at Sacramento County Senior Championship, Scratch Players Senior, Merced County Amateur
Boyns, Jeff Burda (third) and Mark Miller (fourth), but he began it by teaming up with his friendly foes to help the NCGA secure the CGA Senior Cup. “We get along so well,”
said Knoll, who fi nished with 2,486 points, 267 shy of his 2011 total. “You root for everybody. It’s not like I’m trying to repeat or three- peat. We just enjoy playing against each other.” But Knoll already has a head
start on becoming the fi rst player to win three straight Senior Player of the Year awards, advancing to the semifi nals of the U.S. Senior Amateur in October. The only golfer to win three Senior Player of the Year titles in his career is Miller (’07, ’09-10).
SENIOR POY RACE: Jim Knoll
Rooster Run GC Points: 2,486
Casey Boyns Pasadera CC Points: 2,150
Jeff Burda Del Rio GCC Points: 1,635
Mark Miller Roddy Ranch GC Points: 1,555
Gary Vanier Olympic Club Points: 1,547
Players who have won consecutive Senior POY titles: Cliff Davis (‘97-98); Robert Heaton (‘99-00); Carl Selkirk (‘02-03); Mark Miller (‘07, ’09-10), Jim Knoll (’10-11)
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