NCGA Valley Amateur: Mike Perchak backs up record first round with win

Alamo resident Mike Perchak finally got to fulfill his dream of being an NCGA champion. And he did it in record fashion.

A day after carding an NCGA all-time 18-hole low record score of 12-under 61, Perchak posted a 6-under 67 to cruise to a four-shot win at the annual NCGA Valley Amateur Championship at par-73 Dragonfly GC.

It's the first NCGA title for the 33-year-old Perchak, who works in property management.

"I'm to the moon over winning this," said Perchak, whose 36-hole total of 18-under 128 set a record for the championship. "It's such an honor and privilege to add my name to the list of NCGA champions."

A day after a birdie bonanza, Perchak started slowly by playing his first five holes at 1-over par. But he then found his touch again, carding an eagle on the par-5 No. 6 and back-to-back birdies on Holes No. 8 and 9. After making the turn, he'd seal the deal by playing his final six holes at 4-under.

Runner-up Mark Stephens, who was coming off a first-round 67, made a charge with a second-round 65 but couldn't get any closer. Third place went to Joey Hayden at 133 following a card-off with Danny Paniccia.

"I really put the pedal down at the end, which helped give me some extra breathing room," Perchak said. "I just trusted in the process."

SENIOR AMATEUR

NCGA Hall of Famer Casey Boyns can scratch yet another event off what he now calls his bucket list.

Casey Boyns

Boyns, who recently won his first Super Senior Match Play crown, defeated Steve Schroeder on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to claim his first NCGA Senior Valley Amateur title. The win marked Boyns' 11th career NCGA Senior title and record 27th overall NCGA title.

'It's always fun to win," said Boyns, whose 36-hole total of 138 tied the Senior Championship low, set by Jeff Wilson in 2020 and matched by Jeff Burda in 2021.

Looking for his first NCGA win, Schroeder, the COO of Poppy Holding Inc., made a clutch birdie on the 17th hole to tie Boyns in regulation. On the first playoff hole, Schroeder again came through, sinking a 12-footer to match pars and force another hole.

On the ensuing hole (No.8), however, Boyns made par while Schroeder three-putted for bogey. Boyns on his back-nine, had made nine straight pars.

"The only way I was going to win was for him (Schroeder) to make bogey," Boyns said. "I was hitting the ball fine, but the putts weren't dropping for me at all."

Schroeder had back-to-back rounds of 69. Third place went to Chris Miller (141) after a card-off over Joey Ferrari and Bryan Waters.