(NCGA)

Boyns found a way to make a long week short at the 7th Annual NCGA Senior Amateur Match Play Championship.

He entered into the event bypassing the qualifier earning the No. 2 exempt seed. In his first match, the round of 32 at Spanish Bay, the Pebble Beach GL caddy won 5 & 4. In the round of 16, he ended the match on No. 13 – winning 6 & 5. Boyns then went on to win his quarterfinal match that same afternoon – again, winning 6 & 5.

The semifinals were no sweat for the 2007 NCGA player of the year. He closed the match after the 15th hole, winning 4 & 3 to head into the finals against the 2012 Champion, Terry Foreman.

The final match began with Boyns 2-up after the opening two holes. He made the turn 3-up in the match, and after winning on the 10th to go 4-up, it appeared as though he would have smooth sailing to another NCGA victory.

But Foreman had other plans.

The retired police officer beat Boyns on Nos. 11 and 12 to bring him back to a mere 2-up lead.

“I was feeling pretty good about things right before Terry started making his run,” Boyns said. “I remember a match play event where I was in Terry’s shoes – I was 4 down with 8 to go – I ended up winning that tournament. I knew that I couldn’t let up today and I was feeling the pressure when he made that run.”

Boyns and Foreman halved the 13th. Foreman made a birdie on No. 14 – and suddenly Boyns was only 1-up with four holes to go.

“I had to make a long put on No. 13 to tie the hole,” Boyns said. “When [Foreman] beat me on No. 14 I knew I had to make pars and force him to make birdie.”

Foreman and Boyns halved the hole on No. 15. On 16, Foreman hit a wayward drive that nearly went out of bounds. He was forced to pitch back to the fairway and cost himself the hole. Boyns went back to 2-up with an easy par.

The match ended after the former champions halved No. 16.

Boyns, the 2011 Champion, has once again etched his name into NCGA history with his 2013 victory. Boyns took home the title after beating Foreman 2 & 1 in the final match. He never once saw the 18th hole during the tournament.

Boyns becomes the second player in the seven-year history of the event to win two titles.

“It feels good to win,” Boyns said. “Before this event I would have said I was having a mediocre year. Now that I won I would say that I am having a great year.”

He is no stranger to the NCGA winner’s circle, however. Boyns also won the Amateur Match Play Championship event in 1996.

“I am very fortunate to be a part of the NCGA,” Boyns said. “They have a lot of tournaments [on Pebble Beach] and I know these courses extremely well. It is a huge advantage.”

The 8th Annual NCGA Senior Amateur Match Play Championship will take place August 11-15, 2014 at Poppy Hills GC and Spyglass Hill.

View results for NCGA Senior Match Play