PEBBLE BEACH, CA (June 24, 2005) -- “The Golf Gods smiled on me…” so said 65-year-old Bob Olds after he captured the 14th Annual California Senior Amateur Championship. After 54 holes of stroke play at Poppy Hills, the Brentwood and Roddy Ranch member’s score of three-over-par 219 (73-71-75) was good enough for a playoff win over, ironically, his four-ball partner Cliff Davis of Suison. Olds made short work of the playoff, drilling his punch 5-iron to within three feet and making birdie on the first playoff hole, the 163-yard 17th hole.
The “Gods” the champion was referring to can work for or against a golfer, and unfortunately for third-place finisher Earl Stewart, it was his turn to suffer the Gods’ wrath. Coming to the 18th tied for the lead, the Meadow Club member hit perhaps the shot of the tournament to reach the par 5 in two shots. Stewart’s shot was perfectly struck between the tree guarding the green and the forest (sometimes referred to as “kicking a field goal in Poppy Hills’ parlance). From 14 feet away, Stewart then took four strokes to finish, missing the playoff by a one shot.
For Bob Olds, winning the CGA Senior filled out a resume replete with senior honors. “I kind of thought this tournament got by me,” Olds said regarding his age (65) and capturing the title. “But I always wanted to win this one.” After three, three-putt greens on the back nine, Olds almost lost the chance. But a clutch birdie on the last hole put him into the playoff. The 1996 NCGA Senior Player of the Year had finished both runner-up and third at previous CGA seniors and is proud of his development as a senior golfer saying, “I got better when I tuned 50.”
Davis was surprised to be in position to win. “I never thought I had a chance,” he said. The Green Valley member rode four birdies on the front nine to turn in the best final round among the leaders, a one-over-par 73 that matched his effort in both the first and second rounds. Davis, CGA senior champion in 1997 and two-time NCGA Senior Player of the Year (97-98) won the 2001 NCGA Senior Four Ball with Olds, and this provided poignancy to the result. “I wanted to win but this is great stuff to see my partner win.”
Second-round leader Earl Stewart of Fairfax and Roly Lamontagne of Stockton rounded out the medalists, tieing for third, one stroke out of the playoff.
For complete results, click on the tournament link above (amateurgolf.com membership required).
