ALAMEDA, California (April 27, 2009) -- After surviving one of the lowest 36 hole cuts in “Commuters” history, 50 golfers teed off over the final weekend to determine who will be champion of the 82nd Annual Alameda Commuters Golf Tournament.

After hot weather and winds dried out the Earl Fry course throughout the week, the final 36 holes were played in breezy, but ideal course condition with tough pins and longer than normal rough.

All 50 players started the day within 8 shots of co-medalists Reid Scarff (69-70) and Chris Ellis (68-68).

After 72 holes, Taylor Travis, Chris Ellis and Garret True were tied at 7 under par – 277. All three players swapped the lead on the back nine. And after Taylor’s 67, True’s 70, and Ellis’ 65, all three were tied.   Ellis’ round of 65, it should be noted, ended with a three putt bogey from 18 feet on the last hole.

All three players took the first tee for a 3 way play-off in front of 200 people in the gallery.  After a bogey 5 on the first hole dropped Ellis, Travis and True went to the 480 yard par 5 second. After Travis’s 290 yard fairway shot landed pin high, True, from a tough lie, hit his second shot in the water. After a drop, True’s 93 yard 4th shot landed in the cup only to spin out and hang on the lip. Travis two-putted for a birdie and the win!

Nicolo Galleti, finished at 280, along with 4-time Commuter champion, Rick Reinsberg, Min Woo, Stephen Chung,  and Reid Scarff. Scott Travers finished at 281.

Senior Champion Jim Knoll

In the Senior Division, Alameda favorite and 6-time Commuters champion, Bob Blomberg fired a rounds of 76-76 = 152. With the Alameda Commuters Senior Division Championship presenting one of the strongest fields in Northern California. It was Jim Knoll who became the winner of the 22nd Annual Alameda Commuter Seniors.

Knoll fired rounds of 72-69 = 141 to beat out Paul Ballati of Santa Rosa 71-71 = 142 by one stroke. Herb Jensen finished 3rd with rounds of 71-72 = 143.
John Enright of Montara finished 4th along with Doug Johnson.

TOURNAMENT NOTES:

* All 40 members of the Alameda Commuters Committee were on hand to assist the players in all facets of play - from player check-in to on course marshals. Jack Cummings, whose decades of committee membership should not go unrecognized, set the course up for a solid, but  fair test of golf.

* An extra special note of thanks goes to John Vest and Kemper Sports for their hard work and dedication and for taking care of all of the important details in getting the Earl Fry Course in championship conditions.

Complete Results follow: