Tony Padilla of Sacramento sank a 70-foot eagle putt on the final hole to beat Randy Haag of Orinda by one stroke in the 56th Northern California Golf Association at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.
Padilla posted a score 72-70-68—210, 3-under-par, while Haag finished at 70-71-70—211, and Bruce Hanavan of San Anselmo totaled 68-76-75—219 to tie for third with Mike Staskus of Los Altos, who finished at 71-71-77—219.
“Wow, it feels great,” said Padilla, who pulled even with a two-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, where Haag’s birdie putt lipped out. “When I saw Randy’s shot into the green (on the finale hole), I had a feeling that I had to make my eagle putt to win. But you’re not really thinking about making it.”
After Padilla dropped in his bomb, Haag sank a seven-foot birdie putt.
John Mack of Alta Loma was fifth at 75-72-73—220, followed by Mike Rowley of San Luis Obispo at 74-74-73—221, while Terry Foreman of Brentwood finished at 79-73-71—223 to tie for seventh with Rich Gleghorn of Santa Cruz, who wound up at 76-71-76—223, and Jeff Hoffman of Granite Bay, who came in at 72-70-81—223.
Gary Vanier of Pleasant Hill, who captured the title in 2009 and 2013, totaled 69-72-83—224 to tie for 10th with Dean Prince of Paradise, who shot 78-76-70—224, and Douglas Williams of Hong Kong, who finished at 76-74-74—224.
