Lake Merced Golf Club
(Lake Merced Golf Club Photo)
DALY CITY, CA (November 14, 2016) -- Each of the last
two years, a player from Southern California has
captured the title at the annual California Senior
Amateur Championship. While it’s early, it appears that
theme may continue.
On Monday, San Diego resident Patrick Rohan
grabbed the first round lead in this year’s championship
at par-72 Lake Merced GC after posting a 3-under 69.
The 2015 SCGA Super Senior Championship winner was
solid, carding five birdies to go against just two bogeys.
Just a stroke behind Rohan after a 70 is Agoura
Hills’ Craig Steinberg. Steinberg is no stranger to the
limelight, having captured four SCGA Amateur titles
during the 1990s.
Two of the three players (John Pate and Craig
Davis) who are T-3 at 71 also hail from the Southland.
Pate won the California Senior Amateur in 2014 at
Poppy Hills. Also coming in at 71 was 2012 winner
Casey Boyns. Boyns, the all-time leader in NCGA
victories (23 including Senior wins), had a rollercoaster
round, carding seven birdies but also a pair of bogeys
and two double-bogeys. Having started on the 10th tee,
the longtime Pebble Beach Golf Links caddie closed his
day with a back-nine 33.
Also in the immediate hunt is the always dangerous
Jeff Burda. The winner of numerous SCGA and NCGA
senior titles, Burda, is alone in sixth place following a
72. The part-time Modesto/La Quinta resident is the
only player to ever win the California Senior Amateur
three years in a row (2008-2010), and would break a tie
with Jim McMurtrey for most California Senior Amateur
wins (three) with a victory.
In the annual Senior Cup, which pits three players
from the SCGA against three players from the NCGA
and takes into consideration the best two scores out of
three, the NCGA leads 145-148. The NCGA is
represented by Boyns, record six-time NCGA Player of
the Year Randy Haag (74) and 2016 NCGA Senior Player
of the Year Dale Bouguennec (79). Team SCGA consists
of Burda, Craig Calkins (76) and John McClure (77).
Tuesday’s second round will tee off at 8 a.m.
View results for California Senior Amateur
ABOUT THE California Senior Amateur
The California Senior Amateur Championship began
in the fall of 1992, and is the state championship for
players age 55 and over. The first two tournaments
were played at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. In 1994,
the event was moved to Poppy Hills Golf Course in
Pebble Beach, and in 1995, a simultaneous NCGA vs.
SCGA team portion of the championship was added.
Starting in 2010 this 54-hole stroke play
championship will rotate to selected courses
throughout the state. Players must have an index of
7.4 or less and may attempt to qualify at any
location in the state.
View Complete Tournament Information