by Ron Salsig

ALAMEDA, Calif. (April 18, 2010) -- Over the first weekend of the Alameda Commuters, the gallery were thinking. That name on top of the leaderboard seemed very familiar, and quite out of place. Kevin Wentworth shot a 5-under 66 on the Earl Fry Course to take the lead. Kevin Wentworth from Modesto is a star on the PGA Tour. Nobody could find evidence that he had re-gained his amateur status. The buzz was that this golfer did not belong in this tournament.

“Wrong Kevin Wentworth,” the first-round leader said after signing his card for a 75 on Sunday. “He’s left-handed.”

And no relation, just a coincidence. But the thinking led to an odd 3-stroke penalty (the ball moved after he addressed it on the green) which disrupted the rhythm of his round.

With that minor tempest resolved, the Commuters settled into proper form by Sunday evening. George Gandranata, the reigning NCGA and San Francisco City champ, shot a 69 on the Clark Course which put him in the lead at 5-under-par with his Saturday 68 on the Fry. Scott Olds, a former pro who did get his amateur status back, tied Gandranata at 137 with a 67. Patrick Grimes of Palo Alto is alone in third, one stroke back at 138.

Carlos Briones of the Alameda Junior Golf Club is alone in fourth place, shooting 69-70, just two strokes off the lead. Briones won the San Francisco City Championship last year, which sets up a classy showdown next weekend.

The four players tied at 140 are a formidable lot, with credentials. Rick Reinsberg has won the Commuters four times. Cody Robinson of Discovery Bay had the low round of the tournament, a 64 on the Fry. Scott Hardy, the golf coach at now-famous St Mary’s College in Moraga, is always in the hunt on the final day. And Adam Barkow has pedigree as son of Al Barkow, former editor of Golf Magazine and the only man that Ben Hogan authorized to write his biography (Unfortunately, Hogan died before the book could be finished). Defending champ Taylor Travis is one stroke further back with rounds of 73 and 68.

Four females attempted to make the cut, playing from the same tees as the men. The cut to the low 50 scores fell at 4-over 146. Samantha Esguerra, who starred on Alameda High’s girl’s team and won the Women’s SF City title last month, shot 80-78. Tiffany Lim of San Jose shot 80-73. That 73 was the lowest score by a female in the Commuters since Emily Childs -- who made the cut in 2008 -- shot 71.

Gandranata is a Cal star who finished his eligibility last year and took a job as assisstant coach of the team while finishing up his degree in economics. He grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia, and came to the U.S. to attend high school at the David Leadbetter Academy in Florida.

In all, 52 players survived the cut which was set at 146 - 4 over par. The cut line at the Alameda Commuters is traditionally one of the toughest cuts to make in a California medal play event. With the 146 cut, only 9 strokes separate the leaders from the back of the field.

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ALAMEDA, Calif. (April 18, 2010) -- Second round scores from the Alameda Commuters Championship follow. The 36 hole cut line to determine the players who advance to the weekend of April 24-25 fell at 146.