Davis among those to advance at SCGA Senior Match Play

06 Aug 2018
by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: Southern California Senior Match Play Championship, Journey at Pechanga
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Craig Davis (SCGA photo)

MURRIETA, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2018) – The field is down to 16 men at the SCGA’s Senior Match Play Championship, and defending champion Craig Davis is one of them.

Davis, the No. 1 seed on the match-play bracket at Bear Creek Golf Club, got past Martin Penson by a 3-and-1 margin in Monday’s first round of the event. Penson put up a struggle on the front nine, and Davis limped around with four bogeys. On the back nine, however, Davis used three well-timed birdies to shut Penson out. Davis, of Chula Vista, Calif., will face John Fuller of Rancho Santo Margarita, Calif., in Tuesday’s Round of 16.

Below that on the bracket, Rob Campbell of Newbury Park, Calif., claimed the biggest winning margin of the day with his 6-and-5 defeat of Keith McLaughlin. Campbell’s day included an eagle, and five birdies – and that was just in 13 holes.

Other notables to make it through to the next round include Jeff Burda, a prominent player on the national senior amateur scene after victories at the 2014 Trans-Miss Senior and 2016 Golfweek Senior. Burda defeated Steve Bogan, 3 and 2. Don Eklund, who has racked up a handful of victories in his home town of San Diego, also got through to the Round of 16. So did Craig Calkins, who defeated Burda to win this event in 2016.

ABOUT THE Southern California Senior Match Play

The Match Play and Senior Match Play championships began in 2008 as a means of bringing new credence and incentive to the SCGA points program. The SCGA points program awards points to golfers who give strong performances in SCGA, USGA, CGA and other selected outside tournaments. The championship fields consist of 32 players in single elimination match play. The top 24 players on the Senior Match Play Points List earn automatic invitations to compete. The remaining 8 spots into the field are filled through a one day qualifying event. Senior Match Play qualifying is open to members 55 and older with a Handicap Index of 10.4 and below.