Robert Funk (left) and Randy Haag (NCGA Photo)
NCGA Hall of Famer Randy Haag isn't done etching his name into the record books just yet.
On Thursday, Haag notched yet another accomplishment, defeating friend Robert Funk, 1-up, to go back-to-back and win his record fourth NCGA Senior Amateur title at Spyglass Hill. A member at The Olympic Club, for Haag the four wins have come in pairs. In 2016 and 2017, Haag also repeated as champion.
At age 65, Haag is now eligible for NCGA Super Senior events. But at least for now, he has no plans to move up. It's not like Haag hasn't shown he can still compete with guys 10 years younger than him. Last season, Haag won NCGA Senior Player of the Year honors.
"I think it's very cool," said Haag, who notched his 10th career NCGA Senior title, leaving him just three wins behind all-time leader Jeff Burda "I still have my speed and length. As long as I do, I'll play in the Senior events. I love the guys, the people and the NCGA. If I think I can win, then I am going to keep playing in Senior events."
As for the friendship, Funk and Haag are no strangers. In 2022, the two paired up to win the NCGA Senior Four-Ball Championship.
This time around, however, the No.2 seeded Haag and No.20 Funk were foes.
After see-sawing back-and-forth for 17 holes, on the par-4 18th hole both players came up just short of reaching the green in regulation. Funk pitched up, leaving himself a 4-foot putt, while Haag pitched up to within 3-feet. Funk's par putt missed, while Haag's fell in.
Through the front-nine, Haag built a 2-up lead thanks in part to a double-bogey and bogey by Funk on the 5th and 6th holes, respectively. Later, after tying the 15th hole with matching birdies, Funk on No.16 got a much needed win when Haag--for the first time ever--knocked his drive on the hole so long that it went out-of-bounds. A hole later on the 17th Haag made a bogey to bring the match back to even.
"He had some bad breaks. I just wasn't able to capitalize on them," said Funk, who in 2020 won both the NCGA Senior Championship and California Senior Amateur at Poppy Hills. "I needed that putt on 18, and it just didn't happen."
In his quarterfinals match against No.7 Ron Ewing, Haag also came to the 18th hole with the match tied. In that match too, Haag would win it 1-up with a par on the 18th.
"I always really enjoy playing with Robert," Haag said. "It was another close one on a great golf course. Spyglass is one of my top five courses on the planet."
SUPER SENIOR DIVISION
Longtime Pebble Beach Golf Links caddie Casey Boyns is known as 'Legend' around his workplace.
His playing career as an NCGA member is epic as well.
Now 68, Boyns, an NCGA Hall of Famer, picked up yet another title on Friday, winning the annual NCGA Super Senior Amateur at Spyglass Hill after defeating runner-up Jim Williams, 2 and 1.
For the No.4 seeded Boyns, the win marked his 12th Senior title, leaving him just one victory shy of 2024 Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Burda's record mark of 13. Boyns also joined Frank Pieper (2016-27) and Ron Johnson (2018-19) as back-to-back winners of the event.
"It feels pretty good. That's what you're out here trying to do," said Boyns of what was his record 28th total NCGA win. "Playing Spyglass and being with the guys. Winning titles is great, but playing golf is what I like."
If anyone has experience at Spyglass, it's Boyns. He's either looped the course working as a caddie or played it for decades.
"I think I do have an advantage here," Boyns said.
Against the No.2 seeded Williams, Boyns would need it.
Holding just a 1-up lead through the first nine, Boyns upped the lead to two holes after a birdie on the par-4 10th. But Williams, who won the 2022 NCGA Super Senior Four-Ball title, didn't give in.
On the 14th hole, Williams got a hole back when Boyns' approach shot to the green went out-of-bounds. The two tied the 15th hole, but then Boyns regained a 2-up lead after Williams made a bogey. The two tied hole 17 to end the match.
"He (Boyns) is a Hall of Famer," Williams said. "He had a great short game. He's just a tough opponent."
Williams looked to have a great chance to cut the lead to 1-up on the 13th hole, but Boyns made a great up-and-down from the off the green.
"We both put on a chipping clinic," Boyns said. 'The match was a test, that's for sure. I was fighting a little bit with my swing, but got it done."
View results for NCGA Senior Match Play
ABOUT THE
NCGA Senior Match Play
The NCGA Senior Match Play Championship was
historically an invite-only event in which the top
16 players on the NCGA Senior points list were
invited to participate in the Senior Match Play
Championship, held concurrently with the NCGA
Amateur Match Play at Spyglass Hill, over a three-
day period. However, beginning in 2012 the event
was modified to a 32-player match play field,
still allotting 16 spots to the top 16 of the NCGA
Senior points list, while allowing the other half of
the field to qualify.
Senior players (ages 55+) must have a handicap
index of 7.4 or
less. There is no handicap limit for super
seniors (ages 65+).
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