PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (June 3, 2011) -- Jim Knoll and Jeff Burda can now add a Senior Four-Ball to their resumes as the duo capped off a third straight day shooting in the 60s at Poppy Hills GC on Friday. The two teamed up in the best ball format to shoot a 5-under 67, giving them a three-day total of 201 (15-under), to go along with a 68 and 66 in the first two rounds.
Despite both players being two of the best senior golfers over the past couple of years, the pair had never won this event. This year it was almost a foregone conclusion that the two would likely win the championship as they sit first and second on the NCGA Senior Points List.
Asked if it was nice to finally win the Senior Four-Ball, Burda said “yeah it does; it was definitely one of our goals.”
Knoll and Burda’s main competition were Mark Miller and Casey Boyns who started the day three shots back. Miller and Boyns played well actually posting a lower score than the champions, but a 6-under 66 wasn’t enough, and the pair ended two shots back in second place at 203 (13-under).
Miller and Boyns cut the lead to one shot after six holes looking as if they might make a move, but a bogey on seven and chip-in eagle on the par-5 ninth by Knoll put Miller and Boyns back to a three shot deficit, right where they started the day. The lead remained two or three strokes most of the back nine and coming into the par-5 18th Boyns gave his fellow-competitors a scare as he nearly holed out from the fairway for an improbable double-eagle. With Knoll and Burda safely in for par Boyns missed his eight foot eagle putt and settled for birdie.
Overall, both pairs played exceptional as Knoll and Burda had 5 birdies, an eagle and two bogeys, while Miller and Boyns scored seven birdies and one bogey.
Finishing in third were 2009 Champions Rob Adolph and Doug Johnson, who posted a three-day total of 208 (8-under). Robert Fulton and Dan Bieber, and Ben Whipple and Sherman Haggerty finished just outside of the top-3 in a tie for fourth at 210 (6-under). Defending champions Ron Johnson and Peter Moren had their best day of the week with a 3-under 69 to finish in a tie for 16th at 214 (2-under).
With the victory Knoll and Burda have all but solidified their one-two spot in the NCGA Senior Points List as they earned 400 points (200 for each player).
View results for NCGA Senior Four-Ball
ABOUT THE NCGA Senior Four-Ball
First played in 1999, the NCGA Senior Four-Ball
Championship is a two-person, better-ball scratch
event
for senior (age 55+) and super senior (65+) golfers.
The format is 54
holes
four-ball stroke play (18 holes per day) over three
days. After 36 holes the field will be cut to the low
30
teams and ties. Max handicap 9.4.
View Complete Tournament Information