Charles Richesin (Northern California Golf Association Photo)
Woodbridge G&CC member Chuck Richesin rallied to return to the winner's circle.
Richesin birdied the 18th hole en route to a final round 1-under 71 Wednesday at Merced G&CC to come in with a two-day score of 4-under 140 and win the annual NCGA Super Senior Championship by two strokes over runner-up Doug Williams.
For Richesin, it marked his second (2016) Super Senior crown. He joins Jeff Burda and Gary Vanier as the only players to win the event at least twice.
"It's pretty incredible," Richesin said. "I didn't want SoCal (Williams) to take it from us."
Thanks to a 1-under par 35 on the front-nine, it was Williams, who hails from Los Angeles, who looked to be in control. As the two made the turn, Williams held a three-shot lead over Richesin. On the back-nine, however, Richesin caught fire, posting a brilliant 32 while Williams slipped to a 37.
The two came to the 18th hole tied. Richesin made birdie while Williams made bogey.
"Doug early on had been making some great putts. On the backside, I started hitting the ball better. I hit some pin-high shots and then the putts started falling," Richesin said.
A resident of Lodi, the 74-year-old Richesin played his final five holes at 4-under with birdies at holes Nos. 14, 15, 17 and 18. Williams on the other hand played his last seven holes at 2-over, the big damage coming via a double-bogey on the par-4 12th.
In 2019, Richesin earned NCGA Super Senior Player of the Year honors.
Third place went to Casey Boyns at 148 after a final round 75.
View results for NCGA Super Senior
ABOUT THE NCGA Super Senior
The Super Senior Championship was created in 2010 to
give golfers 65 and older their own championship.
Format is 36 holes of stroke play. Players must have
reached their 65th birthday by the start of the
tournament and have a numeric handicap index on
their club’s Master Report of 9.4 or less on the date of
registration.
View Complete Tournament Information