Winner of the Sonoma County Amateur Golf Tournament

Today I was fortunate enough to win the Men’s Low Net in the Sonoma County Tournament held at Foxtail Golf Club.  Playing in the final group today, I started 6 gross shots behind the leader and a total of 10 shots including his extra handicap.

I was nervous yesterday while shooting an 83 (net 70) which included a career shot on the 12th hole, a 553 yard par five.  After a poor tee shot under a tree, I hit a very good 3 wood that still left me 186 yards away from the pin requiring a total carry over a creek to a green that is only 16 yards deep.  Hitting a five wood for my third shot, I put it within a foot, nearly going in, and the subsequent birdie carried me to the final group today.

On the first hole today of the final round, a 533 yard par five, I left my third shot about 50 feet below the hole which was placed in the very back left.  After my opponent (the leader) almost chipped in for his birdie, I just tried to get my putt close – and it went in for a miracle birdie to start the round.  He missed his putt and I had made up 2 shots on the first hole.  By the end of the first nine holes, my 40 to his 47 had shaved 7 shots off the 10 that were needed to make up.

The back nine started uneventfully with a couple of ok bogeys.  However, on the 12th hole again, I had around the same yardage – 186 yards to the pin and managed to put a 5 wood on the green – though around 60-75 feet away down and around a ridge.  I read the putt perfectly about 7 feet to the right, up a ridge and straight downill to the pin, as it started to get close, I started to get excited, then it went in (!) for a startling birdie.  Meanwhile, my opponent bladed a shot to the side of the green and took a bogey at best.

On the very next hole, #13, I hit a rescue club to the par 3, 158 yards that faded in perfectly and almost went in, stopping a couple of feet above the hold.  After making the putt, I had gone consecutive birdies, 4-2) and had made up all the strokes and just needed to play well the rest of the way to have a chance to win.  The next two holes were played with nerves but a steady soft putting stroke that had me make 10 and 8 foot putts for par saves.  Finally, on the next hole (#16), a 479 yard par 5, I hit two decent shots that left me about 155 yards to the pin.  I hit a 5-iron into the wind that faded in (blind to me from where I stood) and stopped about 20 feet to the left, downhill breaking putt.  After watching the others putt, I hit a very soft putt that just caught the right edge of the cup and fell in for another birdie.  Only the second time in my life I have had 4 birdies in a round, and the first with 3 birdies in one nine holes in a tournament (3 in 5 holes).  After finishing up the final two holes, I managed a 79 (net 66) for a total of 136 net (8 under par).

My opponent finished with net 139 and even though one gentlemen had a net 63, I won by two shots over him.  A great win, trophy and major gift certificate!