Player of the Year - Bob Niger

Hometown: El Dorado Hills

Home course: Serrano CC

Profession: Wholesale Distribution

Points: 1,557 (372 more than the second place finisher)

Wins: 3

Wine Country Cup
Sacramento City
NCGA Stroke Play

Top Tens: 11

Sacramento County Amateur – second place
Davis City – second place
Silicon Valley – third place
Roseville City – third place
Amador County Amateur – third place
Memorial Amateur – fourth place
NCGA Master Division – fourth place
Manteca City – sixth place
California State Fair – eighth place
NCGA Amateur Match Play - quarterfinalist
San Francisco City – semifinalist

Niger notched his fourth overall NCGA victory this year, 25 years after he captured the Sacramento Valley Championship as a 22-year-old.

“Player of the year has been a goal of mine for the last couple of years. To win this award from an organization I respect so much is very gratifying.”

Senior Player of the Year - Rob Thompson

Hometown: Merced

Home course: Merced G&CC

Profession: Teacher

Senior Points: 2,111 (a new record and more than double the second place finisher)

Wins: 9

Livermore Valley
Silicon Valley
San Francisco City
Fresno City
Santa Clara County
Modesto City
California State Fair
NCGA Senior Amateur
NCGA Senior Four-Ball

Top Tens: 9

Sacramento Senior –second place
Coombs Cup –second place
U.S. Four Ball –second place
Sacramento County Senior –second place
Manteca Senior City –fourth place
Stockton City Four Ball –third place (tie)
Wine Country Cup –sixth place
Alameda Commuters –seventh place
State Amateur –seventh place

Thompson was the medalist at the U.S. Senior Open qualifier and competed in the 51st USGA Senior Amateur Championship in Georgia with his daughter as his caddie.

“This was a magical season. Everything seemed to go right; it was meant to be. It would be all-world to even get close to ever matching this year.”