TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
Coming Through in the Clutch
Comebacks Lake Merced GC | Nov. 14–16
Santa Barbara resident John Pate wasn’t thrilled with the way he finished, but he got the job done.
Pate shot a final round 4-over 76 and survived a
late charge by Randy Haag as well as cold and blus- tery weather to claim his second title in three years by three shots. With the victory, Pate joined Jeff Burda (2008-2010 ) and Jim McMurtrey(1994, 1995 and 1998) as multiple winners of the championship. “I feel like I underachieved as a Mid-Amateur,” said the 57-year-old Pate, who finished with a three- day total of even-par 216. “Maybe as a senior I’ll overachieve.” The keys to Pate’s win came in the first and second rounds when he posted rounds of 71 and 69, respectively, on a Lake Merced course that was playing tough due in part to thick rough. His 69 came on a day when the next lowest score was a 72. It would give him a comfy four shot lead entering the finale. “I could’ve gone lower than the 69. I left a lot of shots out there,” said Pate, who captured his first California Senior Amateur crown in 2014 at Poppy Hills in his senior debut. “My short game really came through.” In a final round that he called a “dumpster fire”, Pate, the brother of profes-
sional Steve Pate, went 5-over through 17 holes with zero birdies. He’d collect his lone birdie at a perfect time, however, sinking a 3-footer on the 18th to seal the deal. The 18th was the only fairway he hit in regulation. All the while, Pate also had to fend off a feisty Haag. Looking for his first Cal-
ifornia Senior Amateur title, Haag made things interesting with a final round 71 that included three birdies on his back-nine. The Olympic Club member and record six-time NCGA Player of the Year, who’d entered the round eight shots behind Pate, had a chance to apply more pressure on the 18th but missed his 3-foot birdie try. Earlier in his round, Haag missed numerous other putts from within six feet. “When you’re eight shots behind, you can’t miss putts from within six feet,”
said Haag, who came in at 219. “I knew the scores would be there where I could make a run. This course was tough. It played like a championship venue.”
52 WINTER 2017 |
WWW.NCGA.ORG a Theme in FallTourneys
25th California Senior Amateur Championship
NCGA Super Senior Championship
Valley Hi CC | Oct. 24–25
Woodbridge Golf and Country Club member Chuck Richesin finally got his turn at the top.
Richesin, 67, came through when it counted, posting a stellar final round 4-under 68 to run away with his first NCGA title after decades of competing in tournaments. “It’s pretty awesome,” said Richesin, who finished the two-day event with a record 36-hole total of 5-under 139. “It’s been a long time coming. The competition is so good out here.” Playing in the final foursome, Richesin teed off
with defending champion and 2016 NCGA Super Senior Player of the Year Gary Vanier, two- time Senior Player of the Year Mark Miller and 2015 Super Senior Player of the Year Herb Jensen. He’d be the only player in the group to break 73. For Richesin, it was one of those days where
everything was meant to be. Having entered the finale tied with Vanier, on the second hole Richesin holed a 40-foot pitch shot for birdie, Two holes later on the par-5 4th, he’d go for the green in two. His shot clipped a tree and looked to be headed for a lake but stopped three yards short of the water. His next shot ended up just 2 feet from the pin, leading to another birdie. “I got some really good breaks and I putted the ball around the hole and converted for at least par,” Richesin said. Vanier, who shot a record score of 141 in winning in 2015, was never able to make a single birdie en route to a 75, while Miller opened with two straight bogeys on his way to a 73.
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