Poppy Hills GC
October 26-27
PEBBLE BEACH – Spring Creek captured its second NCGA Team Match Championship in five years, defeating Madera 23-13 Saturday at Poppy Hills.
The matches utilize a four-ball format that also has concurrent individual matches. Each four-person grouping is worth 6 points (2 for each individual match and 2 for the four-ball match). The Ripon-based Spring Creek got a boost from the center of its lineup as the Gil Huckle/Lauren Bartels and Sandy Sanders/Joel Tyrus duos swept all 6 of the possible points in each match. These 12 total points proved the difference in the finals.
Spring Creek advanced to the final four a year ago but came in third.
“I told my team to beat somebody…and not your partner,” Spring Creek captain Sandy Sanders said as the team celebrated its win. “We were lucky. It was a real team effort. When I needed them, they were there – all 16 of our guys were there.
The finals are the culmination of a summer-long competition that features qualifying by 219 teams representing more than half of the NCGA’s member clubs. More than 16,000 rounds were played in bringing the four final clubs to Poppy Hills.
Spring Creek won the Saturday Team championship with a 21-15 victory over El Macero. Madera defeated Richmond 24-12 in the Thursday League finals to set up the finals. In the battle for third place, Richmond prevailed 23-13 over El Macero.
Champions Spring Creek – First row (l to r): Bob Franceschetti, General
Manager Jim Toal, captain Sandy Sanders, Gary Fox and Eric Armstrong.
Second row: Dan Castillon, Lauren Bartels, Al Campopiano, Gil Huckle
and Ron Thomlison. Back row: Joel Tyrus, Mike McNulty, Dan Peterson,
Mike Weintz, Mark Purdom and Mike Kinch.
Thursday Team champions and runners-up Madera – First row (l to r):
Ruben Gonzales, Phil Mueller, captain Tom Edginton, Dave Walsh and
Ron Collett. Second row: Bill Howard, Larry Moore, John Howland and
Richard Nelson. Back row: Wayne Boling, Ken Johnson, Jon Eriksen,
Head Professional Eric Costa and Rusty Condon.
Third place Richmond – First row (l to r): Captain Tracy Sergant, Tony Yick,
Vic Cambel, Bernie Gonzales and Charlie Allison. Second row: Tim Curtis,
Dave Holmquist, Stew Offer and Richard Ramun. Third row: Greg Ratto,
Warren Sugimura, Larry Ratliff and Dave Ruffman. Back row: Billy Deweese,
Dave Giovanolli, Walt Welsfry and Jim Gianola.
Fourth place El Macero – First row (l to r): Bill Owen, Reno Cruz,
captain Tom Ramme, Larry Hoffman and Allan Holloway. Second
row: Barry Smith, Bill Kidd, Brian Chamberlain and John Reilly.
Third row: Brian Stamper, Scott Steele, Tim Lien, Sean O’Dea and
Carl Cowan.