BUCKINGHAM >> Brad Pendleton of Lakeport won the 33rd annual Lake County Amateur Golf Championship this past weekend at Adams Springs Golf Course on Cobb Mountain. It was the sixth consecutive county amateur victory for Pendleton, who carded rounds of 67 and 70 for a 1-over-par137 total and a five-stroke margin of victory. Although his winning total was relatively definitive, it wasn’t until the back nine on Sunday afternoon that Pendleton pulled away from the rest of the pack.
Through nine holes Saturday morning, Pendleton was tied with three-Time Lake County Amateur past champion Juan Lopez of Finely, both of whom carded 1-over-par 35s. Pendleton pulled away on the back nine, shooting a 2-under-par 32 to record a 67 and take a two-stroke lead over Lopez.
On Sunday morning, Lopez turned the tables as he recorded a front-nine score of even-par 34 to take a one-stroke lead following Pendleton’s 3-over-par 37. On the final nine, Pendleton got back atop the leader board with pars on the 10th and 11th holes followed by a birdie on the par-4 12th hole. Par golf with a birdie on the par-4 17th hole allowed Pendleton to widen his lead and shoot a back-nine 33 for a final-round 2-over-par 70. Lopez shot 73 to finish in second place with a 142 aggregate total.
Lake County Junior champion Matt Wotherspoon and Hidden Valley Lake superintendent Billy Witt tied for third place, shooting identical rounds of 75 and 71 for a 146 total. Witt is a past Lake County Amateur champion while Wotherspoon is a two-time All-Conference golfer at Kelseyville High School.
Pendleton’s victory puts him in the Lake County Amateur history books alongside the late George Hoberg Jr., who also won six Amateur titles. Pendleton has announced his intentions to turn professional at the end of October following the Lake County Tournament of Champions. He will leave the amateur golf ranks and enter the PGA of America apprentice professional program.
Senior flight
In the senior flight for golfers age 50 and older, former Adams Springs club champion Jerry Pendleton of Lakeport made it a family affair as Brad Pendleton is his son. Jerry recorded rounds of 77 and 72 for a 149 total to finish in first place with a two-stroke victory over Chip Bowlin of Buckingham. Bowlin shot 76 and 75 for a 151 total.
Lake County Senior Amateur champ Jerry Pangle of Lakeport finished third with rounds of 77 and 77 for a 154 total. Dennis Layton of Lakeport came in fourth with scores of 82 and 78 for a 160 aggregate.
Net flight
In the net division for golfers with handicaps of 10 and higher, Rick Gabehart of Lakeport was a wire-to-wire winner, carding net scores of 66 and 67 for a 3-under-par 133 total. Gabehart, the reigning Adams Springs net club champion, parlayed his knowledge of the course into a six-stroke victory. Todd Colbrandt of Middletown finished in second place following net rounds of 71 and 68 for a 139 total. Armond Urbano of Middletown shot net rounds of 74 and 66 for a 140 total to finish in third place. Phil Reimers of Cobb and Alan Mathews of Lakeport tied for fourth place net with a 142 aggregate. Reimers shot 69 and 73 while Mathews came in with net scores of 73 and 69.
Schedule
The Lake County Amateur has historically benefitted junior golf in this region. Golfers in this year’s field donated a combined $1,200 in tournament winnings to the Lake County Junior Golf Council. The Lake County Amateur is a major tournament on the Lake County Circuit. The local circuit has two more events before the conclusion of its 2016 calendar season. Next up is the Lake County Two Man Alternate Shot scheduled for Oct. 22, to be followed on Oct. 29 by the season-concluding Tournament of Champions. Both events take place at Buckingham Golf and Country Club.
Entry forms are available by contacting the Buckingham Pro Shop.
