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John Sawin wins Stocker Cup
CARMEL, Calif. (October 26, 2013) - John Sawin picked the right time to catch fire.

The 28-year-old captured the 22nd annual Stocker Cup, posting a 5-under 67 to come from two shots back in the final round at The Preserve GC. That score allowed the San Francisco investment banker to overtake three-time defending champion Kevin Marsh, whom he played with in the final group.

VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE FINAL ROUND

"I got off to a solid start," the champion said. "And it seemed almost like match play." Indeed, after an eagle on the 8th hole and birdies on the 9th and 10th holes via terrific 9- iron approaches, coupled with a double bogey followed by two bogeys from Marsh, Sawin took a two-shot deficit and turned it into a four- stroke lead.

"I had a sense that I had a good lead so I thought then that pars would do it," he said. Though Sawin was 6- under for the day after a birdie on the 13th and was well within striking distance of the course record of 65, he had victory on his mind. "I knew the course record was 7-under but I'd rather win the tournament than do something stupid."

A bogey on 18 hardly diminished the sense of accomplishment Sawin felt. "This is the first tournament of any significance I've won," the Princeton alum said. "So I'm thrilled." While the Stocker Cup victory is a great win, it is important to note that Sawin owns several club championships at U.S. Open host Merion GC in Philadelphia as well as the 2013 San Francisco GC championship. He also played in the U.S. Amateur earlier this year.

Kevin Marsh was looking to become the first four-time champion of this event, but was unable to maintain the terrific play that led to his second-round 66. His final-round 73 earned second place, four strokes behind the champion. "I didn't play well today," he said. "But that's my game right now. Good some days and bad the next."

Randy Haag, the 2011 champion, carded the second- best round of the day with a 68, propelling him into a third-place tie with past champion Joe Sanders; Haag and Sanders were five shots out.

In the newly christened Ruth Stocker Barry Flight, Erik Stocker, Peter Stocker's son, came from behind in the final round to win the gross division. Stocker's 30 points in the modified Stableford format led to a 94-point total, good for a two-shot win over tournament director George Kelley. Matt Pingatore was three back of the champion.

In the net division, The Olympic Club's Martin Connolly also came from behind to win, posting a net 117 total. Two Preserve GC members, Steve Hoffman and Mark Flynn, took second and third respectively.

Results - Ruth Stocker Barry Flight (Gross)
Results - Ruth Stocker Barry Flight (Net)
For full results of the Peter Stocker Flight, use the link below.

Results: Stocker Cup
1CAJohn SawinSan Francisco, CA40070-71-67--208
2NVKevin MarshHenderson, NV30074-71-68--212
T3CARandy HaagOrinda, CA20074-71-68--213
T3TXJoe SandersBee Cave, TX20072-70-71--213
5NVBrady ExberLas Vegas, NV20071-71-72--214

View full results for Stocker Cup

ABOUT THE Stocker Cup

The Stocker Cup was founded in 1991 to honor the memory of Peter Stocker. Peter and his partners Bill Harlan and John Montgomery founded San Francisco's Pacific Union Company, a highly successful real estate development company. The firm initiated the development of The Santa Lucia Preserve, a 20,000 acre residential and golf community located above Carmel. Meandering through the winding road to The Preserve's centerpiece -- the top-100 rated golf course -- has been described as "driving through a California postcard." The Stocker Cup was played from 1991 to 1999 at Pebble Beach and its surrounding golf courses, before moving to the Tom Fazio and Sandy Tatum designed Preserve G.C. In the words of former USGA President Tatum: "Peter Stocker was the quintessential amateur golfer. He loved golf with a passion. He would have loved this tournament."

FORMAT:
54-hole individual competition with a simultaneous best-ball event, similar to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Invited Mid- Amateur players are either paired with a single digit amateur or can propose their own partner to be introduced and invited by the Committee. 

View Complete Tournament Information

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