andrewnelsen
Handicap Index: 0.7
Sunday, October 06, 2019
I (Andrew Nelsen) need to withdraw from the Cal Am Senior Qualifier at El Camino on 10/7/19 because of work obligations.
29th California Senior Amateur Championship
November 9-11, 2020, Monterey Peninsula CC (Shore)
The California Senior Amateur Championship began in the fall of 1992, and is the state championship for players age 55 and over. The first two tournaments were played at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. In 1994, the event was moved to Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, and in 1995, a simultaneous NCGA vs. SCGA team portion of the championship was added. Starting in 2010, this 54-hole stroke play Championship rotated to selected courses throughout the state. Players must have an index of 7.4 or less and may attempt to qualify at any location in the state.
Casey Boyns Cements Legacy As California Great
In a stacked field of the Golden State’s best senior players, Wilshire CC provided its legendary Hollywood backdrop for an epic seesaw battle that raged over three rounds at the California Senior Amateur Championship. When the dust settled, it was Casey Boyns that emerged victorious for his second career Cal Senior Am title and first since 2012.
Early on the final day, it was a three-horse race between David Nelson, Don Dubois and Boyns. All three players carding 2-under 69s during one of the two earlier rounds at the Hancock Park masterpiece. But it wasn’t long until the 2018 SCGA Senior Player of the Year, and three-time defending SCGA Senior Amateur Champion, Craig Davis, came knocking on the door. Two birdies in three holes to close the front nine put the rest of the field on notice.
As the final group made the turn, and saw that Davis was charging, the shifted their game into another gear. Dubois nearly canned an ace on No. 10, leaving his iron shot on the par-3 a mere two inches from the cup for a tap-in birdie. Shortly after, Boyns and Nelson followed suit with magical wedges on No. 11 for birdies of their own.
As Nelson faded, it was back to a three-horse race between Boyns, Dubois and Davis. Both Boyns and Davis bogeyed the short but tricky par-4 15th while Davis held a share of the lead coming down the 18th fairway. After his drive nestled down in thick rough on the left side of the final fairway, Davis muscled an iron up near the green for a chance at an up-and-down par. Davis’ 15-footer to get into the clubhouse at 1-over slide just short, leaving the door wide open for Boyns, who held a one-shot advantage over Davis and Dubois.
After two good drives from Boyns and Dubois, it was game on. Boyns hit a solid iron to the middle of the green, playing for a two-putt. Dubois, who was one shot back, went flag-hunting and stuffed a mid-iron that nearly hopped into the hole, settling at 12 feet. As Boyns easily two-putted, the stage was cleared for Dubois but his effort just missed.
For Boyns, his two California Senior Amateur Championships now match his two California Amateur Championships, securing his legacy as one of the most decorated amateurs in California history.
In the annual Senior Cup, which pits three players from the SCGA versus three players from the NCGA (best two scores out of three), the SCGA dominated with a 10-shot win, 289-299. The victorious SCGA team included defending three-time defending SCGA Senior Amateur Champion Craig Davis, SoCal stalwart Don Dubois and John Mack. The Senior Cup has changed hands each year since 2015. From 2008-2014, the NCGA rang up seven titles in a row.
Next year’s California Senior Amateur Championship will head north to Monterey Peninsula in Pebble Beach.
Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Team | Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Casey Boyns | Southern California | Wilshire CC |
| 2018 |
Jeff Wilson |
Northern California | The Preserve GC |
| 2017 |
Mark Morgan |
Southern California | Pauma Valley Country Club |
| 2016 |
John Pate |
Northern California | Lake Merced Golf Club |
| 2015 |
Mark Harding |
Southern California | Mesa Verde Country Club |
| 2014 |
John Pate |
Northern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 2013 |
Jim Knoll |
Northern California | San Gabriel Country Club |
| 2012 |
Casey Boyns |
Northern California | Del Rio Golf & Country Club |
| 2011 | Mark Nickeas | Northern California | Saticoy Country Club |
| 2010 | Jeff Burda | Northern California | Fort Washington G&CC |
| 2009 | Jeff Burda | Northern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 2008 | Jeff Burda | Northern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 2007 | Gary Vanier | Southern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 2006 | Steve Bogan | Northern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 2005 | Robert Olds | Southern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 2004 | Rob Thompson | Northern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 2003 | Joe Dudley | Southern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 2002 | Ted Lyford | Southern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 2001 | Roly LaMontagne | Southern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 2000 | Mike Riley | Northern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 1999 | Tom Eastlack | Southern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 1998 | Jim McMurtrey | Northern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 1997 | Cliff Davis | Northern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 1996 | Paul Spengler | Northern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 1995 | Jim McMurtrey | Northern California | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 1994 | Jim McMurtrey | N/A | Poppy Hills Golf Course |
| 1993 | Paul Ladin | N/A | Ojai Valley Inn |
| 1992 | Chuck Weil | N/A | Ojai Valley Inn |