Nick Moore (NCGA photo)
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (September 21, 2016) --Bayonet/Black Horse GC member Nick Moore did it again. He still needs to do a bit more, however, to claim NCGA Player of the Year honors.
The 34-year-old Moore shot a final round 1-over 73 Wednesday at Morgan Creek GC in Roseville to come in at 2-under 142, defeating runner-up Juan Gonzalez by four strokes. With the victory, Moore earns 500 points, which moves him to a total of 1,399 in the race for Player of the Year honors.
It’s also Moore’s third career Valley Am title, setting an NCGA record. Along with winning in 2015, Moore also captured a title in 2013. Moore also becomes the first repeat Valley Am winner since Steven Chung in 2008-2009.
Looking for his second straight NCGA Player of the Year crown, Moore is now just 76 points behind leader Shintaro Ban. The 2015-2016 NCGA points season concludes at the end of September.
Unlike last year, when Moore won the Valley Am after surviving a 9-hole playoff in nearly 100 degree heat, the Seaside resident never was really threatened. He took a three shot lead in Tuesday’s first round with a solid round of 69.
Gonzalez, who plays out of Morgan Creek, couldn’t muster a charge, shooting a final round 73 to finish at 146. San Francisco’s Matt Cohn will also make a move in the points standings after finishing third at 147.
SENIOR
Serrano CC member Mark Morgan went wire-to-wire, shooting a final round 72 to come in at 1-under 143 for a one shot win over Joey Ferrari.
Following a shaky front-nine score of 38, Morgan put things together, carding a back-nine 34 thanks to three birdies.
Ferrari, the NCGA Player of the Year in 1992 and winner of the Senior Valley Am in 2014, closed the gap with a birdie on the 15th but had to settle for three straight pars to close his round.
Steve Wilson finished third at 146 following a final round 74. Dale Bouguennec, who’s been jockeying with Randy Haag for NCGA Senior Player of the Year honors, shot a final round 75 to move up to a tie for fourth.
The NCGA Senior Valley Amateur was worth 300 points.
ABOUT THE NCGA Valley Amateur
Played for the first time in 2004 as a replacement
for
the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valley
championships, the NCGA Valley Amateur has
become a staple in the tournament season. The 36-
hole
stroke play event is played at a venue in the San
Joaquin or Sacramento valley each year and
provides
a top-level championship opportunity. Open to
players with a handicap index of 5.4 or less, and
seniors
with a 7.4 handicap index or less.
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