Corey West had the 60th Northern California Golf Association Senior Championship within his grasp, but needed two extra holes to nail it down.
West, from Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, stumbled to a bogey on the final hole of regulation, but then sank a 45-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to turn back Mark Morgan of Serrano Country Club in El Dorado Hills and claim the title at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.
“It feels fantastic,” said the 59-year-old West, who earned his first NCGA title. “I feel like I had to win it twice. It ended up being a lot more exciting than if I had just made par on 18 to finish. “I could’ve saved everyone some time.
“I just focused on playing my own game. Mark (Morgan) and Jeff (Wilson) are fantastic guys. They were wonderful to play with.”
Morgan earned enough points to move to the top of the standings and claim the 2020-21 NCGA Senior Player of the Year Award.
West, who had a two-stroke lead but drove into a bunker on the 18th hole and needed to two shots to escape before scrambling for his bogey, posted a score of 68-72-75—215, 2-over-par, while Morgan, who made a birdie on the last hole to force the playoff, finished at 70-72-73—215.
Randy Haag of the Olympic Club in San Francisco was third at 75-72-70—217, while Jim Plotkin of EClub Fresno totaled 73-73-72—218 to tie for fourth with defending champion Robert Funk of Amateurgolf.com, who shot 74-70-74—218, and Jeff Wilson of Green Valley Country Club in Fairfield, who wound up at 70-73-75—218.
Scott Anderson of The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon was seventh at 73-72-74—219, followed by Donald Dubois of EClub Monterey Bay at 71-75-74—220, while 2017 winner Tony Padilla of Winchester Country Club in Meadow Vista finished at 77-73-71—221 to tie for ninth with Chris Miller of Discovery Bay Country Club, who came in at 74-74-73—221.
Jim Knoll of Mt. Diablo Firefighters Golf Club, who won this tournament in 2011, 2014 and 2018, tied for 11th at 74-71-77—222, while Gary Vanier of the Olympic Club, the 2009 and 2013 champ, tied for 13th at 72-74-77—223.
For complete results, visit https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/2799777
