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The championship is the ultimate conclusion to a summer-long competition involving 212 teams from across the region. The 12-man teams competed in four-ball (best ball) matches concurrent with singles’ matches, with each match worth two points, or a total of six in each group. More than 16,000 rounds were played in bringing the four final clubs to Poppy Hills.

In one of the closest finals in years, The Olympic Club secured the win with the penulitmate group. Playing in a heavy fog that resembles what they face at their Daly City club, the players parlayed the quasi home-field advantage to a narrow lead that included only one six-point sweep in the six matches, that coming from the Bob Tatemichi/Roger Pytlewski duo. Sharon Heights started the finals by building an early 8-4 lead, but the Menlo Park club was unable to hold off the charge.

“We’re proud to represent The Olympic Club. We’ve had a strong team and a close-knit group all year,” said team co-captain Marcus Colabianchi. “We were given a collective 56 strokes as a team, and after that we just had to go get the job done. This was a fantastic event.”

In an inner-city battle between two clubs on the opposite sides of Golden Gate Park, The Olympic Club upended Lincoln Park 26-10 for the Saturday League title to qualify for the finals.

Sharon Heights claimed the Thursday League title to qualify for the finals, defeating Whitney Oaks of Rocklin 24-12.

Earlier in the day, Whitney Oaks defeated Lincoln Park in the consolation match, 21-15, earning third place overall. Lincoln Park came into the championship seeking an unprecedented third league title.

--Courtesy NCGA

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