(NCGA Photo)

The amateurs started the final day of competition with a comfortable 7-3 lead. Will Johnson set the tone in the opening match with a solid 3 and 2 victory over Tim Huber. Randy Haag and Garrett Wagner followed suit in the ensuing matches with respective 2 and 1 and 4 and 2 victories. Arvo Voip was able to halve his match against Charlie Gibson and secure a half point to clinch victory. The amateurs only needed four pairings in the morning singles play to claim the cup.

The 15-5 drubbing was the largest margin of victory since 1996, when the NCGA team won by 12. San Francisco City champion Johnson proved to be a rock by winning all three of his matches. Two-time NCGA Player of the Year Bob Niger continued his brilliant play by securing three points highlighted by a 3 and 2 victory over Tehama GC's head professional Rick Leibovich. While the NCGA clinched the cup in singles play, the amateurs really distanced themselves by taking four out of five possible points in the four-ball action on Wednesday.

The victorious NCGA Senior team. The Hanna-Wehrman Cup, named for former NCGA Executive Director Bob Hanna and lifetime PGA of America member Lyle Wehrman, has an illustrious history of electric golf. Today's loss brought the NCPGA's overall lead in the series to 17-15-8.

It was more of the same in the newly-named Staedler-Jetter Senior Cup Matches. The senior amateurs started the day with a 8-6 lead going into the singles play and Herb Jensen, Carl Selkirk and Mark Miller provided early scoring with convincing wins. The cup was still in question when the last two singles matches reached the closing hole. Bob Rowland sank an eight-foot putt for birdie to halve his match while Gary Vanier made birdie for a 1-up victory over Mike Cook. Former Senior Player of the Year Rob Thompson punctuated the win with an earlier 7 and 6 runaway over Bob McGrath.

Foursome and four-ball play proved to be tight as the NCGA team won each session narrowly 4-3 setting up the dramatic final day. Singles brought out the best in the senior amateurs on their way to claiming 7 1/2 points in the final session. The matches will return to Poppy Hills next fall.

To view detailed match results, click on the tournament link next to "see also" at the top of the page.