Frank Pieper of Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach claimed his fourth Northern California Golf Association title by winning the 10th NCGA Super Senior Amateur Championship by one stroke over defending champion Jeff Burda and Herb Jensen at Merced Golf and Country Club www.mercedgolfandcountryclub.com.
The 69-year-old Pieper posted a score of 68-72—140, 4-under-par, while Burda, of Spyglass Hill Golf Course in Pebble Beach, finished at 70-71—141 and Jensen, the 2014 champion from Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento, wound up at 72-69—141.
“It means a lot to me, ” said Pieper, who has won the NCGA Super Senior Amateur Match Play Championship twice and teamed with Mike Staskus to capture the 2014 NCGA Senior Four-Ball Championship.
“It’s a big tournament and a good start to the new (points) year. I hit the ball well and got up-and-down when I missed greens. That up-and-down on 16 was really key.”
Pieper, who earned a berth in the 2020 California Senior Amateur on his home course, could have had some breathing room, but his 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole lipped out, moments before Burda missed a six-foot birdie putt that would have forced a playoff.
Said Pieper: “I really wanted to play in (the California Senior Amateur) because it’s at MPCC. Maybe that’s my swan song.”
James Camione of Bayonet and Blackhorse Golf Course in Seaside was fourth at 72-71—143, followed by Charles Richesin of Woodbridge Golf and Country Club, the 2016 winner, at 73-73—146.
Gary Vanier of the Olympic Club in San Francisco, who claimed the title in 2015 and 2017, shot 73-75—148 to tie for sixth with David Uihara of Amateurgolf.com, who finished at 72-76—148, and Ron Johnson of Diablo Country Club, the 2013 winner, who wound up at 73-15—148.
Ken Knott of E-Club Monterey Bay was ninth at 74-75—149, while Rick Doebler of Amateurgolf.com totaled 77-74—151 to tie for 10th with Gary Singer of E-Club Monterey Bay, who shot 75-76—141, and Rich Gleghorn of DeLaveaga Park Golf Course in Santa Cruz, who came in at 77-74—151.
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