BUCKINGHAM — Shawn Auten and Andy Chick, both of Hidden Valley, and Billy Witt of Kelseyville captured the 14th annual Lake County Three Person Scramble on May 15-16 at Buckingham Golf and Country Club.
Auten-Chick-Witt posted rounds of 58 and 59 for a 27-under-par winning total of 117, good for a three-stroke margin of victory.
The winning threesome opened play Saturday with a 14-under 58 in a format where the best shot is played the by the group, the process continuing until the ball is holed out. This sort of format makes for aggressive play, resulting in lots of birdies and eagles. Their 58 gave them a two-shot lead over the Ukiah threesome of Paul Moore, Brian Bechtol and Brady Bechtol, and a three-shot lead over Norm Rentsch and Carl Knipping of Lakeport and Brels Solomon of Upper Lake.
When play resumed on Sunday, the Auten-Chick-Witt team continued its stellar play and built up its lead to three strokes. When all was said and done, Auten-Chick-Witt were the only team to shoot in the 50s both days. Auten and Witt teamed up with Doug Quinones last year to win the 2009 version of the Three Man.
Moore-Bechtol-Bechtol finished in sole possession of second place with rounds of 60 and 60 (120). The Rentsch-Knipping-Solomon team fell off the pace on Sunday and ended up tied for third place at 126 (61-65). Juan Lopez of Finley, John Seed of Sea Ranch and Mike Griggs of Gualala also finished at 126.
Rounding out the top five was the threesome of Nick Schaefer of Davis, All-Coastal Mountain Conference golfer Wyatt Ferrell of Kelseyville, and Kelseyville High School golf coach John Berry after carding rounds of 69 and 66 (135).
Net division
In the net division, Manny Mendoza and Peter Wotherspoon, both of Buckingham, and Javier Castenada of Kelseyville took home the team title with two-day net totals of 61-57 (118). One shot back in second place was the threesome of Todd Colbrandt of Middletown, All-CMC golfer Tyler Drake of Riviera West, and Jesse Santana of Kelseyville at 59-60 (119). Third place went to the old Homestake Mining team of Colin Ross of Buckingham, Jim Kern of Cobb and Rick Thomas of Sacramento with 65-65 (130). In fourth place were Jon Lucich and Jim DeChristofaro of Pacifica and Jack Lucich of Clearlake with 69-68 (137).
Senior flight
Dennis Layton of Kelseyville and Lakeport residents Alan Mathews and Fred Figg ran away from the field in the senior flight, opening up a three-shot lead on Saturday with a 10-under-par 62 and building upon it on Sunday with a 6-under-par 66 for a two-day total of 128 and a four-shot win.
Jack Streeter of Hidden Valley Lake, Ted Knowles of Kelseyville and Dr. Bob Jolin of Lakeport came in second with 65-67 (132).
Senior net flight
The senior net flight was a tightly contested affair as Roy Bruce of Lakeport and Bob Borghesani and Hipolito Perez Sr. of Kelseyville put up rounds of 59-62 for a 121 winning total. One stroke back was the team of Streeter-Knowles-Jolin with 122 (59-63).
Ken Kearse of Buckingham, Tom Salie of Lakeport and Wayne Adair of Ukiah were third with 129 (64-65), while the Kelseyville team of Glenn Neasham, Jerry Wawak and Tom Hughes came in fourth with 132 (67-65).
The next event on the Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit calendar is the NCGA Lake County Partners, a better ball event that takes place June 5-6 at Buckingham Golf and Country Club. The NCGA Partners is a points event on the Northern California Golf Association schedule as well as a longtime event on the Lake County circuit. Entry forms are available at local pro shops.
