BUCKINGHAM — Billy Witt of Kelseyville dropped a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the 19th annual Lake County Open April 24-25 at Buckingham Golf and Country Club. The winning putt died into the cup on its final rotation to give Witt the title.
Witt opened play with a first-round score of 2-over-par 74 to take the lead. First-round conditions were somewhat difficult with blustery winds combined with a long and difficult course setup. Witt”s 74 was good enough for a three-stroke lead over Mike Griggs of Willits. Within range of the leaders were past Lake County Open champion Juan Lopez of Finley and reinstated amateur Brad Pendleton of Lakeport, both at 80.
Witt maintained his lead during the second round. Following a dynamic up-and-down birdie from the sand on the par-5 16th hole, Witt held a three-shot lead with just two holes left to play. Griggs whittled one stroke off Witt”s lead when he birdied the watery 17th hole but still stood two strokes behind going into the 18th hole. Griggs would make a routine par on the final hole, but Witt would struggle as he pushed his tee shot to the right and didn”t have a clear shot at the green. After getting on the 480-yard par-4 in four strokes, he two-putted for a double-bogey six to finish tied with Griggs at the end of regulation play.
Witt and Griggs both hit the fairway safely on the first overtime hole and Griggs knocked his second shot to 12 feet. Witt drained his 20-footer for birdie and Griggs barely missed his putt that, if made, would have sent the tournament to a second playoff hole.
Witt attributed his victory to strong play in all aspects of the game. He recently joined the golf course staff at Hidden Valley Lake and noted that he has put in a lot of time working on his game. Witt won two Lake County Circuit titles last year, capturing the Lake County Three man and Lake County Partners. He shot 74-77 for a 151 total.
Griggs had to settle for second place following rounds of 77-74 (151). Lopez was two shots farther back in third place with 80-73 (153). Pendleton finished fourth with 80-75 (155) and defending champion Nick Schaefer of U.C. Davis was fifth with 84-76 (160). His final nine on Saturday featured a 1-under-par 35.
Senior flight
The senior flight was even more dramatic as Craig Kinser of Lakeport outlasted Jack Streeter of Hidden Valley Lake in a four-hole sudden-death playoff. Streeter held a two-stroke lead with a 4-over-76 following first-round action, but he struggled to an 83 on the final day. Kinser, who opened with 78, returned to card 81 on the second day for a 159 total, matching Streeter. The lead changed hands several times over the final nine holes of regulation play.
During their playoff, Kinser made a routine par on the first playoff hole and Streeter kept things going by draining a 22-foot par putt. Both golfers struggled on the second playoff hole and carded double-bogeys. Streeter made a brilliant up-and-down on the third playoff hole to match Kinser”s par. On the fourth playoff hole, Streeter just barely missed his 5-footer for par, which would have sent the playoff to a fifth hole. Kinser tapped in for par to successfully defend his Lake County Open senior title.
Dennis Layton of Kelseyville finished third with 171 (88-83), Tom Jolin of Lakeport was fourth with 172 (87-85), and Leonard Lea of Clear Lake Riviera, Manny Mendoza of Buckingham and Alan Mathews of Lakeport tied for fifth at 174. Lea shot rounds of 88-86, Mendoza carded rounds of 87-87, and Mathews fired rounds of 86-88.
Senior net flight
Tom Jolin, a 16-handicapper, posted net scores of 71-69 for a 140 total to win the senior net flight by four strokes over Tom Salie of Lakeport. Salie shot 76-68 (144). Dr. Bob Jolin was next with 76-71 (147). Rounding out the top five were David Herrick Lakeport with 151 (75-76) and Jeff Markham of Lakeport with 151 (74-77).
Net flight
The net flight of the Lake County Open was all about youth as Kelseyville High School golfer Peter Wotherspoon posted net rounds of 69 and 64 for a 133 total, easily beating Kelseyville High teammate Wyatt Ferrell, who finished with 138 (71-67). Javier Castenada of Kelseyville was third with 141 (72-69), Joe Del Prete of Kelseyville came in fourth with 144 (70-74), and Jason Laveglia and Craig Werner, both of Kelseyville, tied for fifth with 148. Laveglia”s rounds were 69-79 while Werner carded 75-73.
Forty-four golfers competed in this year”s Lake County Open. The next event on the Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit is the Three Man Scramble on May 15-16 at Buckingham. Entries are available at local golf courses or by contacting the Buckingham pro shop at 279-4863.
