BUCKINGHAM — Juan Lopez of Finley won the 29th annual Lake County Open Golf Championship on Saturday at Buckingham Golf and Country Club after carding a 1-under-par 71 for a five-stroke victory.
It was the sixth Lake County Open title for Lopez during an illustrious career on the long-running Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit. The Open is the second-oldest tournament of note in the area, having first been contested in 1992 even before the Lake County Circuit originated. Lopez also took home the title in 2003-2005, 2008 and 2018.
Lopez opened play Saturday morning by posting an even-par 36 on Buckingham’s front nine. His early climb up the leader board was attributable to carding back-to-back birdies on the second and third holes, both par-3s. Lopez took a three-stroke lead into the back nine and continued to build upon it by making birdies on the par-5 13th hole and the par-5 16th hole. His inward-nine score of 1-under-par 35 gave him an 18-hole total of 71. Lopez, who doubles as the assistant golf coach at Clear Lake High School, said his victory was due to solid putting as well as a good short game.
Hidden Valley Lake Golf Course superintendent Billy Witt finished in second place after posting a 4-over-par 76, Witt shot 39 on the front nine and then came back with a 37 on the back nine. Pete Wotherspoon of Buckingham finished in third place after shooting a 79 while Mike Patterson of Kelseyville came in fourth with 82. Dylan Harrison of Mount Hannah rounded out the top five with 85.
Net flight
Mason Smith of Kelseyville played consistent golf while capturing the net flight of the Open for golfers with handicaps of 10 and higher. Smith turned in a scorecard with a net score of 5-under-par 67. It was the first individual Amateur circuit victory for Smith, who has had several close calls in past events.
Rick Easter of Lakeport finished in second place with a 2-under-par 70. Daniel Been of Clear Lake Riviera, Todd Colbrandt of Middletown and Rich Steenwyck of Willits all carded 73 to fill out the top five.
Senior division
Lopez won the senior division for golfers age 50 and older with his 71 while Witt was second with 76.
Senior net
In the senior net division for golfers older than 50 and with handicaps of 10 and higher, Joe Del Prete of Kelseyville finished atop the leader board with a a net 2-under-par 70. Jim Wright of Kelseyville carded a 75 while Jesse Santana of Kelseyville had 76.
Schedule
The next event on the Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit is the Lake County Three Person Championship, which is contested under a scramble format and is the ultimate birdie-fest. It’s scheduled for May 14 at Buckingham. Tournament entry information can by acquired by contacting the Buckingham pro shop at (707) 279-4863.
