Chip Lutz sinks the winning putt on the 5th hole
(NCGA Photo)
SEASIDE, CA (April 7, 2016)--Record six-time NCGA
Player of the Year Randy Haag and world top-ranked
senior amateur
Chip Lutz are no
strangers to the
pressure cooker.
On Wednesday at par-72 Bayonet Golf Course,
the
duo’s vast experience would carry them through
again.
Lutz, the defending U.S. Senior Amateur champion,
drained a three-foot putt on the 5th hole of a
sudden-
death playoff to help him and Haag finally get by
Doug
and Jim Williams and win the annual NCGA Senior
Four-Ball Championship.
Lutz’ winning putt, which ended a long day of the
two teams dueling back and forth, was set up by a
nearly perfect 54-yard pitch shot from just beyond
the
greenside bunker on the par-4 hole. Even the last
putt
didn’t come easy though, as it horseshoed around
the
cup before finally falling in.
“I wasn’t sure what wedge to hit. The greens
had
gotten so firm,” said Lutz, who went with a 60
degree
sand wedge. “I hit it in the perfect spot and executed
it
at the right time.”
Haag, who plays out of the Olympic Club, and
Lutz, a member of AmateurGolf.com, shot a 68 to
come from two strokes back to tie the Williams
brothers after regulation at 13-under 203. Lutz made
key putts on both the 15th and 17th holes to keep
the
duo within striking distance.
“I love being in the hunt, coming down the
stretch
and making shots,” said Lutz, whose resume also
includes a win at the 2011 Senior British Amateur.
“The
Williams brothers played really well. We were
fortunate
to get by them.”
On the 18th, both Doug and Jim Williams had
putts
to win outright, but missed for a 70. On the 5th hole
of
the playoff, they’d have to settle for par after both of
their approach shots came up well short of the
flagstick. Last year, the duo missed an agonizing
short
putt on the 18th hole at Poppy Hills that would’ve
forced a playoff with eventual champs Casey Boyns
and
Terry Foreman.
“We were so close last year and we got to five
playoff holes this year. It should have been today.
We
had our chances,” Jim Williams said. “Chip made a
great birdie on the 17th and his shot on the 5th
playoff
hole was great too. We stood up pretty well with
them.
We had a lot of fun.”
Haag had his clutch moments too. Earlier in the
round, he nearly holed out from the rough on the 5th
hole for an easy birdie.
“This kind of pressure is what you aspire for,”
said
Haag, who’s been friends with Lutz for over 15
years.
“You can’t play casual golf and put yourself in the
heat
of the moment. It was fun to have to grind it out.”
Haag, 57, now has two senior victories this year. In
March he won the San Francisco City Senior
Championship. In that event, he’d defeat Jim
Williams
in the semifinals.
“It took me a while to warm up to senior golf,”
said
Haag, “I’m finding out that these guys are really,
really
good.”
Third place went to the team of Mark Miller and
Mitch Harrison, who posted 67 to finish at 207.
In the Super Senior Championship, Bruce Loman and
Dave Sheff carded a 68 to finish at 207, defeating
runner-ups Dennis Younglove and David Hemrick
(68)
by three strokes.
View results for NCGA Senior Four-Ball
ABOUT THE
NCGA Senior Four-Ball
First played in 1999, the NCGA Senior Four-Ball
Championship is a two-person, better-ball scratch
event
for senior (age 55+) and super senior (65+) golfers.
The format is 54
holes
four-ball stroke play (18 holes per day) over three
days. After 36 holes the field will be cut to the low
30
teams and ties. Max handicap 9.4.
View Complete Tournament Information