John Berry — Special to the Record-Bee
BUCKINGHAM — Billy Witt of Kelseyville won the 15th annual Lake County Tournament of Champions on Oct. 25 at Buckingham Golf and Country Club.
Witt opened play with a 4-over-par 40 on the front nine, only to charge back up the leader board with a 1-underpar 35 over the final nine holes. Witt”s back nine included birdies on the 10th, 12th and 15th holes. His overall score of 3-over-par 75 was good enough for a one-stroke margin of victory.
It was Witt”s first individual title on the Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit since he won the Lake County Amateur in 2004.
In second place was Nick Schaefer, the reigning Lake County Junior Amateur champ, who carded nine-hole scores of 39-37 for a 4-over-par 76. Schaefer birdied the watery 17th hole to get within one shot of Witt and then barely missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.
For the 17-year-old Schaefer, a three-time All-Coastal Mountain Conference golfer at Kelseyville High School, it was his highest finish in a Lake County circuit event.
In third place was Kelsey-ville High School golf coach John Berry, who carded a 5-over-par 77. Lake County Senior Amateur champion Craig Kinser finished fourth with a 78. Locked in a tie for fifth place were Juan Lopez of Finley and John Seed of Gualala. Lopez and Seed both recorded 80. Norm Rentsch of Lakeport finished sixth with an 83.
Net division
In the net division of the TOC for golfers with handicaps of 10 and higher, James Pogue of Garberville shot a net score of 72 to edge out a trio of golfers by one shot.
Pogue has some history with Buckingham”s subtle greens as he has previously played in pro-ams at the course.
Alan Mathews of Lakeport, Jerry Pendleton of Lakeport and Rich Steenwyck of Willits were one shot back in a three-way tie for second place with scores of 73. Todd Colbrandt of Middletown finished in fifth place with a 76 while Joe Del Prete of Kelseyville came in sixth with 80.
Senior division
In the senior division for golfers ages 50 and older, Jack Winter of Lower Lake was able to hold onto an early front-nine lead to win the Senior TOC title by one shot. Winter opened with a 1-under-par front-nine 35 after recording birdies on the second and seventh holes. He got on the bogey train over the final nine and shot 42.
Winter”s 77 was good enough to beat Hidden Valley Lake”s Jack Streeter, who posted a 6-over-par 78. Streeter also came in second the previous week in the Lake County Senior, losing out in a playoff to Craig Kinser.
Third place in the senior flight went to Fred Figg of Lakeport with 84. Leonard Lea of Clear Lake Riviera was fourth with an 86, while Dennis Layton of Kelseyville rounded out the top five with 87.
Senior net division
In the senior net division, Mike Lephew of Kelseyville shot a 71 to win his flight. Bob Borghesani of Kelseyville was three shots back with a 74. Al Mankins of Riviera Heights carded a 75 and Ken Kearse of Buckingham finished with 76.
The Tournament of Champions closes out the 15th year of operation for the Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit. In 2008 the local circuit hosted seven open events, a senior tournament, two junior tourneys and a parent-junior event. In the season-long races for the On The Links Golfer of the Year honors, Juan Lopez of Finley accumulated the greatest amount of player performance points to win it all. It was the fifth time that Lopez has been named Golfer of the Year and the first time since 2005. Todd Colbrandt won the title for Net Golfer of the Year, Jack Winter was the Senior Golfer of the Year, and Ken Kearse was named Net Golfer of the Year.
The Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit returns for its 16th season next March with the playing of the Lake County Two Man Scramble on March 21-22.
Brian Sumpter
Sports Editor
John Berry
Results of Lake Co. TOC
Cover Page + 2 Pages
10/29/08
