BUCKINGHAM — Upper Lake High School coach Craig Kinser sank a curling 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole to lead his team of Juan Lopez of Finley and John Seed of Sea Ranch to a one-stroke victory in the 11th annual Lake County Three Man Golf Championship last weekend at Buckingham Golf and Country Club.
Kinser-Lopez-Seed won the Three Man for the fourth time, having previously won in 2002, ”03 and ”04.
The winning threesome opened play with 9-under-par 63 in the three-man scramble format. Their first-round 63 was matched by the Ukiah trio of Lake County golfer of the year Paul Moore and partners Brian Bechtol and Brady Bechtol. One shot off the pace at 64 was the team of Mike Griggs of Willits, Chip Bowlin of Buckingham and Norm Rentsch of Lakeport.
On the second day of the tournament, Kinser-Lopez-Seed played steady golf while managing their ball flight in strong and intense winds. Taking a two-shot lead with just three holes left to play, they gave up one of those strikes when Moore-Bechtol-Bechtol eagled the short par-5 16th hole, and then found themselves tied for the lead when the Ukiah team birdied the watery par-5 17th. Kinser made his clutch birdie putt on the 18th green and then had to wait for Moore-Bechtol-Bechtol to miss their birdie putts from 18 feet before victory was assured.
Kinser-Lopez-Seed finished the Three Man with an 18-under-par total after carding rounds of 63-63 for a 126 total. Moore-Bechtol-Bechtol finished with 127 (63-64), and the team of Kelseyville High all-conference golfers Nick Schaefer, Joey Myers and coach John Berry finished third with 132 (66-66). Griggs-Bowlin-Rentsch ended up fourth with 135 (64-71).
Net flight
In the net flight for golfers with handicaps of 10 and higher, the three Borgehsanis of Kelseyville, sons Mark and Paul and dad Bob, held on for a two-stroke win. They fired a 20-under-par 52 in round one and then added a 54 during round two for a two-day total of 106. In second place were Jim Kern and Colin Ross of Buckingham and Rich Thomas of Sacramento with 108 (52-56).
Third place in the net flight went to Jack Lucich of Clearlake, Jon Lucich of Pacifica and Jim DeCristofaro of Pacifica. They shot rounds of 56-59 for a 115 total.
Senior flight
Jack Winter of Kelseyville, Frank Barthelmess of Fairfield and Ken Kearse of Buckingham teamed up to win the senior flight for golfers ages 50 and older. They fired a 9-under-par 63 in round one, equaling the low score of the day in the championship flight. They followed with a 69 in round two for a total of 132, good for a one-shot victory.
Defending champions Greg Scott of Lakeport, Dennis Layton of Kelseyville and Howard Hagen of Riviera Heights finished second with 133 (66-67). In third place with 141 (70-71) was the trio of Fred Figg, Dr. Bob Jolin and Dave Herrick.
Net senior flight
Larry Bresso of Buckingham, Rod Weiper of Kelseyville and Jeff Markham of Lakeport won the net senior flight with 101 (53-48). They not only won by six shots, but broke the tournament record in the process.
Next up on the Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit, which is sponsored by Kelseyville Lumber, is the NCGA Lake County Partners on June 2-3 at Buckingham. Entries are available at Buckingham by calling the pro shop at 279-4863.
