California Senior Am: Yavorsky/Bogan Tied for Lead
PEBBLE BEACH. CALIFORNIA (June 23, 2006) -–Two Southern Californians are tied for the lead after two rounds in the CGA State Senior Championship, but five others, including four experienced Northern Californians, are in hot pursuit only one stroke back.
Steve Yavorsky of Capistrano Beach and 2004 SCGA senior champion Steve Bogan of Placentia stand at five-over-par 149 in the championship being played at 6,510-yard Poppy Hills. John Cahoon of Los Altos maintained his second place position from the first round and shares that spot with 2004 champion Rob Thompson of Merced, Chico's Carl Selkirk, 1982 CGA state champion Gary Vanier of Pleasant Hill (whose second-round 72 was tied for low round of the day) and Jerry Hutton of Long Beach. With 16 golfers within five shots of the lead, Saturday's concluding round promises an active leaderboard.
High wind and fog again accompanied the field throughout the second round, producing no under-par scores. "The greens are rolling quickly so I knew the scores would be high," said two-time NCGA Senior Player of the Year Cark Selkirk. The Butte Creek member and former Senior Tour professional will be gunning for his first state championship after a runner-up finish in 2003.
NCGA Senior Player of the Year Rob Thompson was also hampered by tough scoring conditions. After the11th hole, the 2004 CGA senior champion stood at two-under par for the round. But a rare, double hit on the 12th green and three subsequent three-putt greens left Thompson one stroke back but still very motivated to win: "Outside the U.S. Senior Amateur and Senior Open, this is the next best tournament I play in. I would love to win again."
The North team captured the CGA Senior Cup team competition, coming from six strokes down in the second round to take the trophy back from the defending champion South team. The final margin was three shots (458 - 461) in the format that takes the best three of four scores per day. Thompson was joined on the North team by NCGA Senior champion Bob Rowland of Danville, Tom Lyons of Pleasanton and defending CGA senior champion Bob Olds of Brentwood.
Forty competitors will contend for the championship in Saturday's final round after a cut was made to the low 33 scores and ties. The cut score, 14-over-par 158, was testament to the difficulty of Poppy Hills GC. Starting times for tomorrow's final round begin at 7:30 off the #1 tee.