Gary Vanier of the Olympic Club in San Francisco made par on the first playoff hole to defeat Jim Knoll of Sunnyvale and win the Northern California Golf Association Super Senior Championship at San Luis Obispo Country Club.
The 67-year-old Vanier captured the tournament for the second time and claimed his ninth NCGA senior title, tying Jim McMurtrey for the No.1 spot on the career list.
“I got lucky again,” said Vanier, who has been a standout since his days at Skyline High in Oakland and Stanford. “The golf gods were on my side.”
Vanier posted a score of 70-73—143, 1-under-par, missing a three-foot par putt on the 18th hole that would have given him the victory in regulation, while Knoll, of Rooster Run Golf Club, finished at 71-72—143, but missed a similar putt on the playoff hole.
Next up for Vanier is the California Senior Amateur on Nov. 6-8 at Pauma Valley Country Club.
“To me, I don’t play many tournaments anymore so it’d be nice to defend that title,” Vanier said. “I’m fortunate to just be in the running.”
Rich Cleghorn of Santa Cruz and DeLaveaga Golf Club was third at 74-72—146, followed by Dennis Younglove of El Macero Country Club at 73-74—177, while Mike Watney, Fresno State golf coach from Copper River Country Club, shot 79-69—148 to tie for fifth with Ron Johnson, the 2013 champion from Walnut Creek and Diablo Country Club, who wound up at 75-73—148.
Bob Cayton of Santa Cruz and Pasatiempo Golf Course was seventh at 74-75—149, followed by Frank Pieper of Carmel and Monterey Peninsula Golf Club at 75-75—150, while Rob Adolph of Spyglass Hill totaled 74-77—151 to tie for ninth with Chuck Richesin of Woodbridge Golf Club in Elk Grove, who also came in at 74-77—151.
