Michael Jensen of San Francisco became the fourth player to repeat as champion in the 30th Stocker Cup.
The 35-year-old Jensen posted three scores in the 60s, pulling away to defeat Joe Neuheisel of Scottsdale, Ariz., by three strokes after they were tied for the lead through two rounds at The Preserve Golf Club within the Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel.
“I was able to keep pace with him with my putter,” said Jensen, who also won the 106th San Francisco City Championship in April at TPC Harding Park. “I was making a lot of putts. Joe and I got a little bit into match play on the back nine since we were three or four shots clear of everybody else.
“Throughout my career, par-5s are definitely where I’ve scored the best, and I did it again. The driver is one of my better clubs in the bag. I hit it long and straight, so I can attack par-5s a majority of the time.”
Jensen, who was 9-under-par on the 12 par-5 holes in three rounds, posted a score of 67-68-69—204, 12-under, while Neuheisel finished at 67-68-72—207. They were still tied before Neuheisel three-putted for a double-bogey 5 on the 16th hole, where Jensen made a four-foot putt to save par and then he added a two-putt birdie at No. 17 for the final margin.
Geoff Gonzalez of San Jose shot 71-67-71—209 to tie for third with Brian Blanchard of Scottsdale, Ariz., who finished at 69-69-71—209, while Nick Moore of Seaside wound up at 74-67-71—212 to tie for fifth with Jack Schultz of Milwaukee, Wis., who came in at 72-68-72—212.
Jason Anthony of Fairfield was seventh at 71-73-70—214, while Stephen Hale of Bakersfield posted a score of 72-70-73—215 to tie for eighth with Bill Williamson of Cincinnati, Ohio, who shot 72-69-74—215, Will Wears of Baltimore, Md., who finished at 66-77-73—216, and Colby Harwell of San Antonio, Texas, who wound up at 73-69-74—216.
Previous winners of The Stocker Cup include Brandt Snedeker, John Pate, Tim Hogarth, Randy Haag, Kevin Marsh, Brady Exber, Joe Deraney, Michael Brannen, Bob Niger, Scott Watson and Craig Doell.
The Stocker Cup was first played in 1991, when Tad Buchanan was the winner, and it has been held over the years at Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay and Poppy Hills Golf Club.
The tournament was not played in 1994 and was canceled because of the Coronavirus Pandemic in 2020.
For complete results, visit https://ac-2022stockercup.golfgenius.com/pages/8878246749362224214
