Dahl, an NCGA staffer, puts his name on NCGA Stroke Play trophy

July 14, 2019 | by Northern California Golf Association

Ian Dahl (NCGA/Twitter photo)

Ian Dahl is believed to be the first NCGA employee to win an NCGA championship.

As part of his duties as the NCGA’s Marketing, Membership and Communications Coordinator, Ian Dahl has spent much of the summer working on updating the Association’s trophy case.

He has now earned the right to have his own name engraved on one of the trophies.

The 30-year-old Dahl, who played at Cal-Berkeley from 2007-10, shot a final-round 2-under 69 Sunday at the par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Course to capture the 39th annual NCGA Amateur Stroke Play Championship by three shots over co-runners-up Alex Chin and Christian Banke.

It’s the first time Dahl, a native of Longview, Wash., has won an event since the 2012 Salinas Valley Amateur. It is believed that he is the first NCGA employee to win an NCGA championship.

“It’s awesome. It’s a lot of fun,” said Dahl, who finished with a three-day, 54-hole total of 3-under 210. “I just kind of slowly got better each day of the tournament.”

On his final seven holes, Dahl wasn’t just good. He was great. Having started the day just two shots behind second-round leader Jerry Ledzinski, Dahl went 4-under through the last seven to seal the victory.

On the par-4 12th, he stuck a 9-iron to within 20 feet of the pin and made the putt. A hole later on the par-5 13th, he knocked his third shot (from 95 yards out) to within 10 feet of the hole. That putt also fell. On the ensuing 14th, he’d drain another 10-footer for birdie. Not knowing where he stood on the scoreboard, Dahl for a security blanket penciled in another birdie after reaching the par-5 18th in two.

“I didn’t really miss a shot those last seven holes,” said Dahl, who shot a ho-hum 36 on the front-nine. “I just kind of grinded it out the other days and in the early part of the round. Scoring conditions were tough.”

Ledzinski, who was looking for his third career NCGA title, finished in sixth place at 214 following a disappointing final-round 75. Among the Monterey Peninsula CC member’s woes was his tee shot on the par-3 11th, which ended up on the adjacent bridge.

Univeristy of San Francisco junior Alex Chin, who came into the day just a shot off the lead, carded a final round 73 to tie for second with Banke at 213., Banke, who was runner-up at the recent California Amateur, had a 72. Chin was awarded second after a card-off.

Chin stumbled early with a double-bogey on No.4 after going out-of-bounds. Banke, who plays at San Diego State, was slowed by a back-nine 38.

Results: NCGA Stroke Play

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Ian Dahl	Carmel, CA	350	72-69-69=210
T2	Alex Chin	Pleasanton, CA	230	70-70-73=213
T2	Christian Banke	Danville, CA	230	72-69-72=213
T4	Ryan Grauman	Alamo, CA	140	68-76-70=214
T4	Jason Anthony	Fairfield, CA	140	72-70-72=214

View full results for NCGA Stroke Play

About the NCGA Stroke Play

Dahl, an NCGA staffer, puts his name on NCGA Stroke Play trophy

First played in 1944, the NCGA Stroke Play Championship has a special history, as the tournament has been won by the likes of Ken Venturi and Johnny Miller. The sterling silver perpetual trophy was donated by the San Francisco Examiner in 1944. Champ...