By John Reger, for amateurgolf.com
CARMEL,
California (October 14, 2006) --When
Bob Niger walked off the green after his
third round, Saturday at The Preserve Golf
Club, he had a five-stroke lead over the
field going into Sunday’s final round
of the Stocker Cup Championship.
That
lead looked like it would hold up, but
four groups later, a rival had overtaken
him.
Marc
Peterson shot a 6-under 66 and finished
11-under par 205. Niger, who began the
third round two shots ahead of Peterson,
shot a 69 and is at 10-under 206. The next
closest competitor is Michael Goodes of North Carolina at 7-under.
“I
was hoping for anything in the 60s,” Peterson
said. “This golf course suits my
eye really well.”
Peterson
is familiar with Niger , the two battled
to a tie at the California State Fair Amateur
Championship in September and Niger bested
the 25-year-old Peterson with a birdie
on the first playoff hole.
“I
owe him one,” Peterson said.
Standing
on the driving range in the morning, Niger
wasn’t even sure his game was going
to hold up in the third round.
“I
wasn’t hitting it well on the range,” the
46-year-old Niger said. “I tried
to put it out of my mind.”
That
was made easier when he made birdie on
the first hole. He also had two impressive
par saves, including No. 18 when he pulled
his approach shot into heavy rough then
flopped his chip to 12 feet and made the
putt.
Peterson
didn’t have as many harrowing moments,
but did have a thrilling finish. From the
14th hole in he made birdie, par, birdie,
eagle, birdie to shoot 31.
“It
was a nice run coming in,” Peterson
said. “You are going to make mistakes,
I just want to avoid big numbers. That’s
my goal.”
54-Hole Team Competition Concludes
- Doell and Myers survive a serious challenge
by Ebner and Zacks
The
finale of the team competition was just
as exciting. Phil Ebner and Andrew Zacks
shot a final round 10-under par to finish
25 under 191, losing by a stroke to Craig
Doell and Jack Myers.
Doell
and Myers had a four-stroke lead going
into the final round and shot 6-under 66,
largely on the effort of 2004 Stocker Cup
Champ Doell, who also shot 66.
“He
played inspired golf today,” said
Myers. “From tee to green he never
let up.”
Doell
said it was a team effort.
“We
ham and egged it really well,” Doell
said. “He carried me the day before.
We were really a good pair.”
Shot of the day - goes
to John Finster. Finster’s partner,
Roger Huddlestone was on the green, while
Finster was trying to get on the green after
hitting over the green. Finster’s chip
hit Huddlestone’s
ball and it ricocheted into the hole.
Finster
said Huddlestone exclaimed, “I finally
helped out the team.”
NEW
for 2006 is live scoring, with results
updated as the cards are turned in.
Please click on one of the links
below:
* INDIVIDUAL "A PLAYER" RESULTS>
* TEAM (A and B Player)
BEST BALL RESULTS>
In addition to the internet scoreboards,
daily
recaps will
be posted on this website at the end of
each round, and emailed to major golf media
outlets. Please use the contact information
below to add your name to the media list.
MEDIA CONTACT
INFORMATION:
Pete Wlodkowski
amateurgolf.com
6965 El Camino Real
Suite 105-631
Carlsbad, CA 92009
760-929-9297 office
760-685-3406 mobile
email: petewl at amateurgolf.com
Notes:
1.) www.amateurgolf.com provides information
on amateur tournaments around the U.S.,
runs a 15-event tournament series, and provides
web and media services for events such as
The Stocker Cup. The subscription fee of
$35/year will be waived for members of the
golf media upon receipt of an email or phone
request.
2.) A-player biographies can be viewed at-
http://www.stockercup.com/contestants.htm
3.) Media Inquiries can be directed to Pete
Wlodkowski of amateurgolf.com at 760-929-9297
or by contacting
him via email.
ABOUT THE Stocker Cup
This event is dedicated to the memory of
Peter
C. Stocker, a prominent west coast
real estate developer and avid amateur golfer
who died in a tragic helicopter
accident in 1990. The premier mid-amateur
tournament
on the West Coast, this is a 72 hole stroke
play Invitational with an open qualifier
for players aged 25 and over with a 3.5
index
or lower (number of qualifiers based on player
count).
A 54 hole team competition, including friends
of Peter Stocker, runs concurrently.
--
Players with National golf resumes may
request
an invitation at: www.stockercup.com.
-- To register
for the 5-spot qualifier, visit
www.amateurgolf.com/tour.
View Complete Tournament Information