PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA (June 22, 2006) --Southern California golfers hold seven of the top nine spots on the leaderboard and the South team is leading the Northern California team by six strokes after the first round of the 111-person 15th California Golf Association Senior Championship at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.
Bakersfield resident Kent Richardson leads the pack in the individual race with an even-par 72. The University of Southern California alumni, age 58 and an insurance agent, is a multiple winner of the Bakersfield Club Championship and a veteran of amateur golf, but this would be his biggest triumph. Kent shot a 2-under-par 34 on the front nine, his only sub-par score coming from eagling the ninth hole. He bogeyed two holes on the back nine.
Laguna Niguel's Kemp Richardson, age 60 and no relation, secured the second spot with a 1-over-par 73. The winner of the 2001 and 2003 U.S. Senior Amateur, as well as the 2003 British Senior Amateur, Kemp lost a playoff on the third extra hole of 1966's SCGA Amateur Championship to former tour pro John Jacobs. Kemp birdied two holes and eagled hole 10 but bogeyed five holes as well.
The best Northern California score came from John Calhoon of Los Altos, a 73. Robert Carver of Fullerton, the SCGA's 2004 and 2005 Super Senior Amateur Champion, holds fourth at 74, birdieing four holes but bogeying six to finish 2-over.
Kemp Richardson replaced South team member Jim Meyers, who pulled out the day before competition for emergency eye surgery, and shot the lowest score of the team's total of 225. Redlands' Ted Lyford and Banning's Ray Vanyo both shot 76 and 2005 SCGA Senior Champion Scott Monroe, of Julian, shot 83, with his score not counting toward the three-score team total.
The North shot 231, with its low score of 75 coming at the hands of Merced's Rob Thompson, the 2004 CGA Senior Amateur champion. Pleasanton's Tom Lyons shot a 76, while Brentwood's Bob Olds and Danville's Bob Rowland shot 80s, with one score not counted.
Play continues on Friday, after which the field will be cut to the low 33 players and ties. The team portion concludes with tomorrow's round.
RESULTS:
15th California Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship
at Poppy Hills Golf Course, Pebble Beach
6233 yards, par 72
18 hole results:
72 -- Kent Richardson, Bakersfield.
73 -- Kemp Richardson, Laguna Niguel; John B Cahoon, Los Altos.
74 -- Robert Carver, Fullerton.
75 -- Rob Thompson, Merced; Steve Bogan, Placentia; Steve Yavorsky, Capistrano Beach; Ron Ramsey, Newport Beach; Mas Matsumoto, Monterey Park.
76 -- Michael Reuther, Grass Valley; Jerry Hutton, Long Beach; Tom Lyons, Pleasanton; Ray Vanyo, Banning; Ted Lyford, Redlands; Frank Abbott, Napa; Herb Jensen, Carmichael; Carl Selkirk, Chico.
77 -- Jack Rector, Thousand Oaks; Shellton Washburn, Novato; Earl Stewart, Fairfax; Lee Jeberjahn, San Luis Obispo; Robert Forster, Huntington Beach; Dick Lahey, Kentfield; Gary Vanier, Pleasant Hill.
78 -- Steve Wilson, Solana Beach; Gregory Hetzer, San Pedro; Steven Garrett, Santa Clara; Frank Pieper, Aptos; Steven Hakes, San Diego.
79 -- Rich Tolly, Laguna Hills; Thomas Perkins, Pleasanton; Joe Dudley, San Jose; Richard Braun, La Mesa; David Ellis, Roseville; Bill Bowen, Lincoln; Ken Krieger, La Quinta; Neal H Pearson, San Leandro; Lou Alvarez, Auburn; Bruce Black, Los Gatos; John Enright, Montara.
80 -- Bob Olds, Brentwood; Bob Berg, Redding; Bob Rowland, Danville; Robert Fullagar, Atwood; Jeff Early, Pleasanton; Tom Eastlack, Prescott; Steve Rhorer, Costa Mesa; Nyal Leslie, Santa Monica.
81 -- Farrell Hinkle, Costa Mesa; Dennis Noren, Newport Beach; David Hemrick, Aptos; Clifford Davis, Fairfield; Michael Marcus, Dana Point; Jack Brohamer, Palm Desert; Dr Gregory Saiki, Sanger; Daniel Schag, Pacific Palisades; Allen Belknap, Alta Loma; Jim Welsh, San Jose.
82 -- Gary Shemano, San Francisco; Karl Stewart, Hemet; Tony Lehman, Palm Springs; Clement Richardson, Salinas; Thomas O'Grady, Los Altos; Ronald Johnson, Walnut Creek; Roly Lamontagne, Stockton.
83 -- Paul Spengler, Carmel; Larry Wagner, Danville; Scott Monroe, Julian; Joe Byrom, San Diego; John Nouskajian, S. Pasadena; Rex Massier, Concord; Michael Davis, Santa Rosa; Robert Greig, Los Angeles; Kerry Booth, El Cajon; Robert Acosta, San Pedro; J. David Carroll, Napa.
84 -- Bob Green, Capitola; Frank Merhar, La Jolla; Edward Rosenbaum, Palm Desert; Jim McMurtrey, Fair Oaks; Jim Saivar, San Diego; Lee Tomlinson,.
85 -- Henry Pilger, San Anselmo; Dennis Younglove, El Macero; Peter Daley, Newport Beach; Randolph Noble, Encino; Jack Peat, Rancho Mirage; Billy Hatton, Fullerton.
86 -- Robert Pipkin, La Quinta; David Johnson, Sacramento; Thomas Klauda, La Jolla; Dave Nicholas, Bakersfield; Patrick Barrett, Newbury Park.
87 -- Garry Theroux, Danville; Paul Kay, Encino; Larry Grant, Westminster; Robert Irwin, Whittier.
88 -- Byron Erkenbrecher, Clovis; Bruce Swanson, Foster City.
89 -- Doug Dusenbury, Carmel.
90 -- Allan Jamieson, Burlingame; Dennis Stancik, San Clemente.
92 -- Doug Ladd, Alameda; KC Crain, Los Angeles.
93 -- Warren Shafer, San Diego; 94 -- Terry Coffee, Roseville; Howard Paulson, Yorba Linda.
WD -- Dave Parsons, Benicia; Sandy McCall, Newhall; Edward Campion, Salinas; Robert Alves, Sacramento; Jim White, Carmel.
