Jim Plotkin (NCGA photo)
Despite being an avid surfer, Carlsbad, Calif. resident
Jim Plotkin opted not to catch any waves while visiting the Monterey Peninsula. For one, the water in NorCal is much colder than in SoCal. Another reason, as Plotkin said, was that NorCal waters feature more adult great white sharks.
At Poppy Hills, it was Plotkin who became the one to fear, as the 61-year-old e-Club Fresno member cruised to a three-shot win at the NCGA Senior Championship. A day after carding a 2-under 69 to take a three-shot lead, Plotkin posted a final round 73 to defeat runner-up Steve McPherson by three shots.
It's the first NCGA title for Plotkin, and marked his first victory since last year's SCGA Senior Match Play Championship.
"It feels great," said Plotkin, who finished the 54-hole event with a total of 1-under 212. "One of my goals this year was to win something like this."
Over his first two rounds, Plotkin, who owns and operates an employee testing business, carded 10 birdies. In the final round he only had one birdie but never made anything higher than a bogey. Over his 54 holes, he'd never pencil in anything higher than a bogey.
"Today was a little tougher, but I again hit a lot of greens," Plotkin said. "This course is tough. It's a privilege to win here. It's a real shotmaker's course. You can't spray it around."
McPherson came in second at 215 after his own 73. Randy Haag and Rich Gleghorn came in tied for third at 221 after rounds of 69 and 72, respectively. Haag would be awarded third place in a card-off. Haag's 69 vaulted him 26 spots up the leaderboard.
The third-place finish also sewed up NCGA Senior Player of the Year honors for Haag.
ABOUT THE NCGA Senior
First played in 1962, the NCGA Senior Championship
is the
association’s premier event for players aged 55 and
over. The
championship will be 54-holes of stroke play (18
holes per day). After
36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 30
individuals and ties. Pre-
qualifying required for non-exempt players. Players
must have a
handicap index of 7.4 or less.
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