PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA (May 2, 2006) -- With a five-under-par 67 in the final round of the NCGA Senior Championship, Bob Rowland followed recent history in the championship by coming from deep in the pack to claim his first NCGA title. The tournament concluded with today’s final round at 6,506-yard Ruby Hill CC. Rowland’s 67 joined a 73 in the first round to post a four-under 140. 

The 62-year-old Castlewood and MPCC member is no stranger to success in senior events, having won the Salinas City in 2006, and the Santa Clara County and Monterey City in 2005. After a one-over-par 73 in the first round, the champion caught fire on the front nine, going out with three birdies. After burying a 45-foot putt on the 14th hole, Rowland knew he had the championship in sight: “My adrenalin really got going.” Another birdie on 16 against no bogeys for the round left Rowland with the championship. “This is pretty big,” the champion said. “My game has gotten a lot better since I retired two years ago, and it’s great to win.” Rowland retired from a career as a TWA/American Airlines pilot. 

Playing along side of Rowland was runner-up Gary Vanier. The Olympic Club member was making his senior debut in NCGA competition, and his strong 68 placed him one shot back. The 55-year-old has been very successful as a regular amateur, placing into the semifinals of the NCGA Amateur Match Play as late as 2005. “I’m going to play with the kids in the big tournaments,” Vanier said, “but also mix in some senior events.” One of those senior events will be the CGA State Senior Amateur in June at Poppy Hills. 

First-round leader John Arnold, after a tournament-low 66 in the opening round, faded to 6th place at 145. Third place went to Castlewood’s Tom Lyons at 143. 

The super-senior division, for players over 65, was claimed by Michael Davis of Serrano with a 144, a score good enough for fourth overall.

* * * *

Final results from the NCGA Senior Championship, played at Ruby Hill Golf Club:

Player	Club	Scores
Bob Rowland	Castlewood	73-67--140
Gary Vanier	Olympic Club	73-68--141
Tom Lyons	Castlewood	71-72--143
Michael Davis*	Serrano	72-72--144
Bruce Swanson	Roddy Ranch	70-74--144
John Arnold	Creekside	66-79--145
Stephen Smith	Monterey Peninsula	70-75--145
Robert Callan*	Olympic Club	73-73--146
Mark Miller	Lone Tree	71-75--146
Carl Selkirk	Butte Creek	78-69--147
J. David Carroll	Silverado & Resort GC	72-75--147
Charles Richesin	Woodbridge	72-75--147
Jim McMurtrey*	North Ridge	75-73--148
Charles Gillespie	San Francisco	74-74--148
Earl Stewart	Meadow Club	75-73--148
Lou Alvarez	Black Oak	74-74--148
Bob Berg	Riverview	71-77--148
Gene Ackerman	Valley Hi	72-76--148
Dick Lahey	Meadow Club	76-73--149
David Ellis	Granite Bay	76-73--149
Herb Jensen	Del Paso	76-73--149
David Hemrick	Spring Hills	75-74--149
Jim Whisman	Plumas Lake	75-74--149
Rob Thompson	Merced	75-74--149
John Enright	Olympic Club	74-75--149
Lee Jeberjahn	San Luis Obispo	73-76--149
Frank Abbott	Silverado & Resort GC	74-75--149
R. F. Martin	Plumas Lake	73-76--149
Doug Dusenbury	Monterey Peninsula	73-76--149
Bill Bowen	Lincoln Hills Club	77-73--150
Frank Pieper	Monterey Peninsula	77-73--150
Tony Wilmer	Castlewood	79-71--150
Dennis Younglove	El Macero	75-75--150
Andy Smith	Oakdale	73-77--150
Eb Luckel	Richmond	77-74--151
Patrick Cowell	San Francisco	78-73--151
Dallan Ragland*	Kings River	74-77--151
Bobby Fries*	Fort Washington	74-77--151
Shellton Washburn	Meadow Club	73-78--151
Bob Fleming	Haggin Oaks	72-79--151
Robert Alves	Teal Bend	77-75--152
Ronald Johnson	Diablo	77-75--152
Garry Theroux*	San Ramon	76-76--152
Dave Parsons	Chardonnay	75-77--152
Thomas Ogrady	Los Altos	77-76--153
John Cahoon	Sharon Heights	77-76--153
Greg Tachiera	Round Hill	77-76--153
Bud Christians	Catta Verdera	78-75--153
Jim Ono*	Cypress	76-77--153
Michael Reidy	Castlewood	80-73--153
Dick Dallagiacomo*	Tierra Oaks	73-80--153
Steve Isaacs*	Meadow Club	77-77--154
Bob Olds*	Roddy Ranch	73-81--154
Michael Reuther	Auburn	77-78--155
Ray Diaz	Santa Clara Co Firefighters	77-78--155
Lew Garbutt	Tierra Oaks	77-78--155
James Dalton	Saratoga	76-79--155
Vic E. Shellenberg	Bennett Valley	77-79--156
Edward Hashim	Fort Washington	77-79--156
Ray Rockwell	Contra Costa	79-77--156
Marshall Raymer	Castlewood	80-76--156
Clifford Pearson	Marin	78-79--157
Neal Pearson	Orinda	79-78--157
Larry Wagner*	Blackhawk	80-77--157
Bob Green	Pasatiempo	80-77--157
Byron Erkenbrecher	Copper River	77-81--158
Tom Lewandowski	Rancho Murieta	75-83--158
Spiro Pettas	Russo-Cardinale	75-83--158
Ed Anderson*	Butte Creek	80-78--158
Larry Riis	Petaluma	80-78--158
Gary Conti	De Laveaga	81-77--158
Michael Armstrong	Quail Lodge	81-77--158
Bruce Black	Pasatiempo	83-75--158
James Sullivan*	Pasatiempo	76-83--159
Alan Schneider	Harding Park	76-83--159
Kenneth Hopper*	San Joaquin	79-81--160
Joe Dudley	Coyote Creek	79-81--160
Dr Gregory Saiki	Sunnyside	82-78--160
Mike Spellman	Roddy Ranch	77-84--161
Walter Sasser*	Boundary Oak	82-80--162
Dale Howell	Sunnyvale	83-79--162
James Cottrell	Shoreline Golf Links	77-86--163
Frank Luna	Sierra View	80-83--163
Henry Guerin	Chuck Corica	82-81--163
Robert Blakeslee*	Yolo Fliers Club	82-82--164
Don Mancebo	Merced	84-80--164
Tony Reboton	Nor Calif Left Hander's	82-83--165
Jerry Chirpich*	San Luis Obispo	84-81--165
Mark Harrison	Stanford University	85-80--165
Cecil Warren	De Laveaga	88-77--165
Lee Benson	Green Valley	82-84--166
Robert Frey*	De Laveaga	91-75--166
Richard Harris	Gleneagles International	80-87--167
John Spitler*	Green Valley	83-84--167
Craig Allen*	Palo Alto	86-82--168
Francis Spadola	Silverado	84-85--169
Clifford Davis	Green Valley	90-81--171

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