BUCKINGHAM — Brad Pendleton of Lakeport went from an also-ran to champion during the final nine holes on Sunday to capture the 21st annual Lake County Open Golf Championship at Buckingham Golf and Country Club. The tournament is sponsored by Konocti Vista Casino and Hotel.
Pendleton, the defending champion, posted rounds of 77-71 during the two-day tournament for a 148 total to win the Open by two strokes.
Pendleton opened play Saturday and fired a 5-over-par 77 to find himself five strokes off the pace set by Juan Lopez of Finley, who carded a rock-solid even-par 72. Buckingham”s greens were very firm and the rough was long, making for a tough course throughout the weekend. Jeff Myers of McKinleyville and Billy Witt of Kelseyville also shot 77 and Travis Evans of Garberville was one shot farther back with an opening-round 78.
On Sunday morning, Lopez posted a front-nine score of 38 while Pendleton shot a 37 to edge within four strokes of the leader. Pendleton birdied the par-4 10th hole and cut the lead to two strokes when Lopez bogeyed the hole. Pendleton then birdied the par-3 11th hole to pull into a tie for the lead as Lopez again made bogey. Now tied through 11 holes, Pendleton took the outright lead with a birdie on No. 12. He followed that up with another birdie on the par-5 13th hole to take a two-stroke lead over Lopez and a three-stroke lead over Evans. Pendleton had a three-putt bogey on the 14th hole and a three-putt bogey on the 18th hole, but neither miscue hurt him as he hung onto his two-stroke margin and closed out the Lake County Open with a 4-over-par total through 36 holes.
Lopez finished in second place with a 150 aggregate (72-78). One shot farther back in third at 151 was Evans (78-73). Myers came in fourth with 154 (77-77) and Witt rounded out the top five at 161 (77-84). Chris Curtola of Vallejo was sixth with 163 (81-82).
Net flight
Dr. Bob Jolin of Lakeport won the net flight for golfers with handicaps of 10 or higher. Jolin held a one-stroke lead after first-round play when he posted a 74 for a one-stroke lead over Colin Ross of Buckingham. Jolin returned on Sunday to shoot a 75 for a 149 total. Ross had a 76 on Sunday for a 151 aggregate. Javier Castaneda of Kelseyville finished third with 152 (81-71), Joe Del Prete came in fourth with 155 (79-76), and Jack Lucich of Clearlake finished fifth with 166 (82-84).
Senior flight
In the senior flight for golfers age 50 or older, former Upper Lake High School coach Craig Kinser ran away from the field, winning by a six-stroke margin. Kinser shot 83 on Saturday for a one-stroke lead and then recorded a 6-over-par 78 on Sunday to post a 161 total. In second place was Leonard Lea of Clear Lake Riviera with 167 (86-81). John Berry, the golf coach at Kelseyville high School, finished in third place with 169 (84-85). Jerry Pangle of Kelseyville was fourth with 176 (88-88).
The next event on the Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit is the 16th annual Lake County Three Person Golf Championship, which is scheduled for May 19-20 at Buckingham.
Entry forms are available at local pro shops or by calling 279-4863.
