Top-seeded Randy Haag of Orinda, a member of the Northern California Golf Association Hall of Fame, just keeps on rolling.
The 64-year-old Haag captured the 17th NCGA Senior Amateur Match Play Championship for the third time by defeating No. 2 qualifier Rob Campbell of Camarillo, 3 and 2, in the final at Spyglass Hill Golf Course in Pebble Beach.
Haag, who is tied with Casey Boyns of Monterey with the most NCGA Open Division titles with 16, claimed his eighth NCGA Senior Division title, four behind the record held by Jeff Burda of Modesto.
“I think winning now is more special than back then,” said Haag, who played at Campolindo High in Moraga and San Diego State. “I watched my Dad lose his vision. So I just appreciate getting to be able to come out and play in these surroundings. You never know how long you’ll be able to play.
“It’s really been one of my best years.”
Earlier in 2023, Haag captured the San Francisco City Senior Championship, the Alameda Commuters Senior Championship and the Monterey City Senior Championship, and appears to be a lock to claim the NCGA Senior Player of the Year Award to the second straight season.
Haag has won more than 200 events in Northern California.
“I’m proud of how I played,” said Campbell, 60, who competed at San Jose State. “I just got beat, that was all there was to it.”
Haag went three-under par through the last five holes to put the match way, while in the quarterfinals, Haag knocked out defending champion Scott Anderson Bakersfield by playing the first eight holes in four-under-par en route to a 5-and-3 victory.
Campbell slipped past William Bunce of El Dorado Hills, 2 and 1, in the other semifinal.
In the NCGA Super Senior Championship final, Boyns routed Herb Jensen of Carmichael, 6 and 4, at Spyglass Hill.
Like Haag, Boyns has won numerous NCGA titles but this was the first time he claimed the Super Senior Championship after Jensen eliminated him in the first round of the tournament with an upset last year.
“Casey got his revenge,” said Jensen, who won the 2014 NCGA Super Senior title. “I knew I would have to play well. Casey was just hitting the ball great today.”
Boyns carded a score of four-under-par 32 on the front nine to take command against Jensen en route to his record 26th NCGA title in all categories, including his 10th in the Super Senior Division.
That tied Boyns with Gary Vanier of Pleasant Hill, who played at Skyline High in Oakland and at Stanford, for the most victories in the NCGA Super Senior Division.
“It’s always nice to get an NCGA win, and yes, I had thought about the Super Senior,” Boyns said. “Getting that now, it’s sort of like a bucket list thing.”
And now, even Haag is chasing him for overall NCGA victories.
For complete results, visit: https://ncga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/ncga23/event/ncga2335/contest/13/leaderboard.htm
