Champions Scott Olds and Kip Yaughn and third place
finishers Jim Williams and Mike Staskus (left to right)
NCGA photo
Years after playing together in little league,
childhood pals Scott Olds and Kip Yaughn proved
to be a lethal duo on the golf course.
Olds, a member at Antioch GC, and Yaughn, who
plays out of Oakhurst GC, carded their second
straight 8-under 64 Tuesday at Poppy Ridge GC,
leading to a win in the 12th annual NCGA Masters
Division Four-Ball Championship.
The duo’s two-day score of 16-under 128 tied the
tournament record, set by 2014 winners Scott
Anderson and Mark Pavletich and runner-ups Jon
Peterson and Eddie Davis, who lost in a playoff.
The tandem of Paul Rice and Rick Taniguchi were
second at 131 following a final round 63.
“It’s awesome,” Olds said. “Growing up together
makes it even better.”
Olds and Yaughn made their team debut at last
year’s Master Division Four-Ball. They’d finish in
sixth place.
“Last year when we partnered up Scott said he’d
get me a medal,” Yaughn said. “He followed
through big time.”
The two 46-year-olds ended up carrying each
other. In Monday’s first round, Olds shot a 66 on
his own ball. A day later it was Yaughn’s turn, as
he’d card a 69 on his own ball.
Having entered the final round with a two stroke
lead over three teams, Olds and Yaughn started
somewhat slowly, posting a front-nine 33.
The sluggish start enabled the team of Dominic
DeBellis and Andy Nevin, who were also in the
final foursome, to get within two shots after the
1oth hole. Rice and Taniguchi, meanwhile, were a
shot behind the leaders.
The difference would be a late Olds/Yaughn push
that included sets of back-to-back birdies on holes
No.13 and No.14 and No.16 and No. 17.
Rice and Taniguchi played their final eight holes at
2-under. DeBellis and Nevin went 2-over through
the last eight holes en route to a 70.
“We had our chances,” DeBellis said. “I made a
birdie on No.10 and Scott (Olds) was 10-feet
above the hole. So we’re thinking we’re going to
gain a shot. Then Scott knocked it in. They both
played really well. We just couldn’t get any putts
to drop.”
Yaughn’s baseball career went far enough that he
would be drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and
then-Florida Marlins as a pitcher.
Now that his career on the diamond is over, he’s
playing more golf. It appears he’s found the
perfect partner in Olds.
“We’re getting more used to playing together,”
Yaughn said.
Third place went to the team of Mike Staskus and
Jim Williams, who also had a final round 63.
View results for NCGA Mid-Amateur Four-Ball
ABOUT THE NCGA Mid-Amateur Four-Ball
Two-person, better-ball scratch event for NCGA
members 25 years of age and older. FORMAT: 36
holes of four-ball stroke play, 18 holes per day.
ELIGIBILITY: Players must have reached their
25th
birthday by the start of the tournament and
have a numeric handicap index listed on their
club’s
Master Report of 5.4 or less on the date of
registration. Partners need not be members of the
same club.
View Complete Tournament Information