NCGA Senior Championship: Mike Stieler wins in a playoff
September 27, 2023 | by Northern California Golf Association
see also: Mike Stieler, View results for NCGA Senior, Poppy Hills Golf Course
Terry Foreman let the lead slip through his fingers, bogeying the final two holes to force a playoff with Stieler.
In 2013 and 2014, he won the NCGA Four-Ball Championship playing with buddy Danny Paniccia. In 2017 and 2019 too, the pair won the NCGA Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Championship.
This time, Stieler got his own title.
The 56-year-old superintendent at Spring Creek Golf and Country Club caught Terry Foreman with a birdie on No. 18 at Poppy Hills, and went on to defeat Foreman on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff on No. 1 to claim his first individual NCGA crown.
"It's hard to win," said Stieler, who finished with a three-day total of 1-over 214. "All of the years that I've played. All of the attempts I've made. It's great that it paid off."
Foreman, 10 years older than Stieler at 66, looked to be in great shape to claim his first NCGA individual since the 1977 Public Links Championship. However, he'd bogey both No. 17 and No. 18 to open the door for Stieler.
"I just chunked it," said Foreman, whose last NCGA win came at the 2015 NCGA Senior Four-Ball Championship with partner Casey Boyns. "I still had a great event. It'll sting, but it is what it is. Mike's a great player."
Stieler made his biggest move in the first round when he carded a 1-under 70. Coming into the tournament, Stieler had been working with Kevin Wentworth, a former Tour professional who played with Stieler on the Spring Creek Team Match Play squad.
"He has helped me a ton with my irons," Stieler said. "He's really tightened up my irons play."
Third place went to Jeff Wilson after a final round 4-over 75.
Results: NCGA Senior
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ripon, CA | 500 | 70-72-72=214 | |
| 2 | Antioch, CA | 300 | 72-71-71=214 | |
| 3 | Fairfield, CA | 200 | 72-69-75=216 | |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | 200 | 70-71-76=217 | |
| T5 | Morgan Hill, CA | 200 | 73-75-70=218 |
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 a...
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