First round of NCGA Valley ends with five-man tie at the top

MEADOW VISTA, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2018) – There isn’t a lot of wiggle room at the top of the leaderboard after Monday’s first round of the annual NCGA Valley Amateur Championship at the par-72 Winchester Country Club.

Five players–Ryan Johnson, Ben Peters, Lane Pulliam, Spencer Hulsey and Jerry Ledzinski—are tied for first after coming in with matching scores of 72. The wildest days came from Pulliam and Hulsey, who each posted five birdies but also five bogeys on the course, which played to 7,007 yards.

Johnson, Peters and Ledzinski all had three birdies and three bogeys. Peters is already an NCGA champion this year, having won the Public Links crown. Ledzinski won the 2015 NCGA Mid-Amateur.

Two players–Joshua Diaz and Cody Riecks, who plays at Fresno State—are T-6 at 74. Riecks is from nearby Auburn.

Monterey’s Nick Moore, who entered the 500-point event leading in the points standings for Player of the Year honors, shot 78 and is T-27. Defending NCGA Player of the Year Jason Anthony carded a 75 and is T-8.

SENIOR VALLEY AM

Olympic Club member Randy Haag already has 19 career titles, including both championship and Senior events.

His 20th win could come in an event he’s never won.

Haag took the lead Monday in the Senior Valley Am, carding a stellar 6-under 66 that featured seven birdies and just one birdie.

In second place at 68 is defending NCGA Senior Championship winner Tony Padilla. Padilla, whose home course is Winchester CC, had five birdies and a bogey.

In at 70, and alone in third place is 2016 champion Mark Morgan. Morgan is the defending California Senior Amateur champion.

The low Siuper Senior score (age 65-plus) is Herb Jensen, who shot 72.