Michael Jensen of San Francisco made a par on the first playoff hole to turn back Jason Anthony of Fairfield and win the 29th Stocker Cup, a mid-amateur tournament, at The Preserve Golf Club in Carmel.
The tournament was not played last year because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Jensen, who also captured the 2008 Alameda Commuters and lost in the semifinals of the 2020 San Francisco City Championship, posted a score of 66-71-72—209, 7-under par, while Anthony, who won the Northern California Valley Amateur the last two years among numerous other titles over the years, finished at 67-70-72—209.
Needing a birdie on the final hole of regulation on the last hole of regulation after Anthony made an eagle at No. 17, Jensen rolled in a downhill 20-footer, before Anthony sank a 15-footer for birdie to force the playoff.
“The last six feet, it just starts to get faster,” Jensen, who played college golf at Cal, said of his putt on the last hole of regulation. “I was just trying to roll it down there for a tap-in. … I know Jason well. We have played amateur golf together in tournaments like the Santa Clara County in the final group, and he’s a tough competitor.”
Anthony had a 25-foot birdie putt on the playoff hole and left it 10 feet short, then missed his par putt before Jensen made the winner from three feet.
Joseph Deraney of Belden, Miss., who won the 2016 and 2019 Stocker Cups, was third at 73-67-70—210, while Brian Blanchard of Scottsdale, Ariz., shot 67-76-68—211 to tie for fourth with Bryan Hoops of Tempe, Ariz., who wound up at 67-70-74—211, and John Sawin of Pebble Beach, the 2013 and 2018 Stocker Cup champion, was sixth at 68-70-74—212.
Hoops was tied for the lead with Jensen and Anthony after 36 holes.
Ryan Terry of Nashville, Tenn., totaled 69-73-71—213 to tie for seventh with Rusty Mosley of Vidalia, Ga., who wound up at 69-72-72—213, and Patrick Christovich of New Orleans, who came in at 68-71-74—213, while Stephen Hale of Bakersfield finished solo 10th at 76-70-68—214.
Previous winners of the Stocker Cup include Brandt Snedeker, John Pate, Tim Hogarth, Randy Haag and Kevin Marsh.
For complete results, visit https://stockercup2021.golfgenius.com/pages/3224236
