LOGIN  |  JOIN  |  INFO  |  BENEFITS
Calkins defeats Exber in playoff for Morrison Cup title
Craig Calkins (left) receives a handshake from Brady Exber (Photo submitted)
Craig Calkins (left) receives a handshake from Brady Exber (Photo submitted)

Brady Exber put himself in position to win a third consecutive Morrison Cup title on Saturday afternoon, but that ended with a tricky 5-footer for par on the third playoff hole against Craig Calkins. After playing three solid days of golf at Pauma Valley Golf Club in Pauma Valley, Calif., Calkins put his name on the Morrison Cup winner’s list for the first time.

Calkins, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., led Exber, of Las Vegas, by two at the turn. Exber’s birdie on 15 and Calkins’ three-putt bogey on the treacherous 17th green allowed Exber to draw even.

While the focus had been on Exber and Calkins, another man in the final group was also making a move. David Oas, of Oceanside, Calif., stood in the middle of the fairway at the par-5 17th and crushed a driver to within 10 feet of the green. He got up and down for the only birdie in the group, which allowed Oas to get within one of the lead going to the 18th tee.

Oas’ wayward tee shot there, however, went out of bounds to the left, effectively ending his chances of a spot in the playoff.

After both Exber and Calkins parred the closing hole, it was back to the 18th tee. After two more trips down that hole and still no winner, the playoff moved to the 10th, an uphill par 4 with a large, steeply sloped green.

Both players found the center of the fairway and hit good approach shots into the green. Exber putted first but left it short, and after carefully watching Exber’s putt, Calkins lagged to within a foot before tapping in for his par. When Exber missed his putt, it left Calkins with the victory.

Calkins was runner-up at the Hesler in 2018 and tied for second at the Ralph Bogart Tournament. His head-to-head defeat of Exber is significant, considering that the defending champion is a two-time Stocker Cup champion, an SNGA stalwart and the reigning Canadian Senior Amateur champion.

Results:
1CACraig CalkinsManhattan Beach, CA50076-71-74=221
2NVBrady ExberLas Vegas, NV30074-73-74=221
3CADavid OasCarlsbad, CA20076-75-74=225
4CAJohn MackAlta Loma, CA20076-74-76=226
T5CADan SivadgeEl Cajon, CA20080-73-74=227

View full results for

ABOUT THE

The Marion R. Morrison National Senior Championship, or the Morrison Cup, is a 54-hole stroke play tournament with three divisions: Seniors (ages 55+), Super Seniors (65+) and Legends (70+).

Entries are open to male amateur golfers who have reached their 55th birthday on or before the tournament date. Applicants must have a USGA handicap index of 5.0 or less (10.0 or less in the Super Senior and Legends Divisions).

Entries will be considered first in the order they are received, second by player index, and third by past performance in similar competitions.

View Complete Tournament Information

Latest in 

Amateurgolf.com, Inc.
6965 El Camino Real 105-631
Carlsbad, CA 92009

Instagram X Facebook YouTube