NCGA Players of the Year
For the second year in a row, Mark Miller of Antioch (right) came from behind in the final week of the season to snatch senior player of the year honors. It is the Roddy Ranch member’s third such honor in four years. He is the only three-time winner of the award. Miller’s 1,547 points were 76 more than runner-up Jeff Burda, and were produced through a remarkable record of top-5 finishes as well as victories at the Vallejo City and Marin City championships. But perhaps the dentist’s most impressive finish of the year was a runner-up placement at the NCGA Public Links in April, where he lost in a playoff to Scott Hardy. The 59-year-old has built an impressive legacy from an extensive schedule and consistent top-10 finishes.
Burlingame’s Randy Haag earned his fifth player of the year award placing him alone at the top of player-of-the-year honorees. The Olympic Club member’s 1,833 points were more than 600 clear of runner-up Scott Hardy and were powered by victories in the NCGA Four-Ball with Darryl Donovan, earning medalist honors at the NCGA Amateur as well as the Oakland and Santa Clara city titles and a runner-up finish in the NCGA Master Division. He finished in the top five in 80% of events played in 2010 and more than half of tournament rounds he scored in the 60s. In July, the 51-year-old vice-president of Cahir Capital secured low amateur honors at the British Senior Open, earning a third consecutive trip to that championship in 2011. Haag has now won 12 NCGA titles and 72 medals; he is the fourth back-to-back winner of the now 40-year-old award.