Jeff Burda
(NCGA Photo)
PEBBLE BEACH, CA (August 15, 2016) -- In a betting parlor, he would’ve been a popular choice.
Del Rio Country Club’s Jeff Burda finished first in Monday’s stroke play qualifying for this year’s NCGA Senior Amateur Match Play Championship, posting a solid 1-over 72 at Poppy Hills Golf Course. Burda, along with 16 other players, earned spots in the championship brackets, where they will join the 16 players who were exempt from qualifying due to their position in the NCGA Senior Player of the Year points standings.
An eight-time NCGA senior major winner, including the 2009 NCGA Senior Amateur Match Play Championship, Burda had three birdies to go against four bogeys. He’ll enter match play, which begins with Tuesday’s first round at Poppy Hills, as a potentially lethal No.17 seed. Regarded as one of the best senior amateurs anywhere, Burda finished seventh at last year’s California Senior Amateur Championship.
Others turning in solid rounds and advancing were E-Club East Bay member John Mack and De Laveaga’s Rich Gleghorn, who posted scores of 73. Rob Adolph and Jeff Britton were T-4 at 74.
The cut line for advancing was 7-over 78.
The No.1 seed for match play is 2015 NCGA Senior Valley Amateur champion and current points leader Dale Bouguennec of Contra Costa CC. The No.2 seed is Olympic Club member Randy Haag, who is coming off an appearance at last weekend’s U.S. Senior Open.
SUPER SENIOR DIVISION
La Rinconada CC member Richard Brown earned the No.9 seed, posting a solid 1-over 72 to finish first in Monday’s stroke play qualifier at Poppy Hills.
Brown and seven other players advanced through the qualifier. They’ll join the top eight seeds, which were determined by the NCGA Super Senior Player of the Year standings, in Tuesday’s first round of match play at Poppy Hills.
Finishing second in qualifying, and earning the No.10 seed after a 75, was AmateurGolf.com member Bruce Loman.
The No.1 seed will be defending NCGA Super Senior Player of the Year Herb Jensen. Gary Vanier, the current leader in the NCGA Super Senior Player of the Year standings, is not competing.
This marks the first year that the NCGA has hosted a Super Senior Amateur Match Play Championship.
View results for NCGA Senior Match Play
ABOUT THE NCGA Senior Match Play
The NCGA Senior Match Play Championship was
historically an invite-only event in which the top
16 players on the NCGA Senior points list were
invited to participate in the Senior Match Play
Championship, held concurrently with the NCGA
Amateur Match Play at Spyglass Hill, over a three-
day period. However, beginning in 2012 the event
was modified to a 32-player match play field,
still allotting 16 spots to the top 16 of the NCGA
Senior points list, while allowing the other half of
the field to qualify.
Senior players (ages 55+) must have a handicap
index of 7.4 or
less. There is no handicap limit for super
seniors (ages 65+).
View Complete Tournament Information