Ron Ewing (Northern California Golf Association Photo)
This year's California Senior Amateur will come down to the final round and perhaps even extra holes.
Following Tuesday's second round, the leaderboard was a logjam. Three players--Paul Smith, Ron Ewing, and Tom Kroll--are all tied at the top at 2-under par 142.
Smith, of Oxnard, was the biggest mover, carding a 71 to get into a tie for the lead.
Lurking just a shot behind is another group of three players--Tim Hogarth, Randy Haag, and Mike Stieler. Hogarth, the first-round leader, fell back with a 74.
Haag, the event's two-time defending champion, and Stieler, this year's NCGA Senior Championship winner, both shot matching day-low scores of 70.
The only other player to three-peat as champion was Jeff Burda from 2008-2010.
Craig Davis and Mark Smith, both SCGA members, are only two shots behind at 144.
The cutline for the final round (low 30 and ties) came at 7-over 151.
In the North-South Challenge, the SCGA defeated the NCGA, 421-423. The Challenge, which is contested over the first two days of the championship, takes the best three scores from each region (NCGA and SCGA).
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.
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