BUCKINGHAM — Wyatt Ferrell of Kelseyville ran away with the 11th annual Lake County One Person Scramble on Saturday at Buckingham Golf and Country Club.
The opening tournament during the 29th season of the Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit, the One Man is the ultimate mulligan-fest with golfers getting to follow up their initial shot with a second one and choosing the better of the two. The end result is low scores featuring birdies and eagles. It’s a great way to open the season opener for golfers who have let their clubs gather cobwebs throughout the winter months.
Ferrell is a former member and All-Conference golfer for Kelseyville High School’s class of 2012. He opened play with a 6-under-par 30 to take the early lead, a front nine that featured four birdies and an eagle-two on the par-4 fifth hole. Wyatt kept the pedal to the metal and added five more birdies on the inward nine to shoot a 5-under-par 31 for an overall 11-under-par score of 61.
Ferrell romped to a five-stroke victory over Juan Lopez of Finley. The One Man win was his first individual triumph on the Lake County Circuit. He attributed his victory to a much-improved short game with great wedge play and greenside chipping.
In second place was Lopez with a 6-under-par 66. Third place was a tie between Hidden Valley Lake superintendent Billy Witt and Dylan Harrison of Mount Hannah. Both golfers turned in scorecards of 4-under-par 68. Pete Wotherspoon of Buckingham was one shot further back in fifth place with a 3-under-par 69.
Bruce Erckenback of Lower Lake finished in sixth place with a 1-under-par 71.
In the 11-year history of the One Man, Lopez has won the overall title four times and Witt three times.
Senior flight
In the senior flight for golfers age 50 and older, Lopez finished atop the leader board with his 66 followed by Witt with 68. Third place went to Gary Cisneros of Napa with a 2-under-par 70, Rick Easter of Lakeport was fourth with even-par 72, and Mike Patterson of Kelseyville rounded out the top five with 73.
Net flight
In the net flight for golfers with handicaps of 10 and higher, Mason Smith of Kelseyville finished atop a crowded leader board by posting a 15-under-par 57. One stroke back with at 58 was the trio of Easter, Todd Colbrandt of Middletown and Ted Knowles of Lower Lake. Enrique Monsante of Kelseyville finished at 11-under-par 61 to finish fifth.
Senior net
In the senior net flight for golfers age 50 and older with handicaps of 10 and higher, Ken Kellner of Kelseyville came in first at 15-under-par 57. Jim Wright of Kelseyville was one stroke back at 58, Dr. Bob Jolin of Lakeport came in third with 61, Manny Mendoza of Buckingham was fourth with 63, and Al Diaz of Napa and Mel O’Meara of Upper Lake tied for fifth with 65
Schedule
The next event on the Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit is the Two Person Scramble set for March 19 at Buckingham. Entry forms are available by contacting the Buckingham Pro Shop.
Following the conclusion of play at the Two Person, the On the Links golfers of the year for 2021 will be recognized. Witt will be honored for his season of brilliance as the golfer of the year and senior golfer of the year. Pete Wotherspoon will be recognized as the net golfer of the year, and Easter will receive honors as the senior net golfer of the year.
