OC Invitational Draws Record Field

OC Invitational Draws Record Field; Tijeras Creek Plays Difficult

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA—Some 150 Tour Players converged on Tijeras Creek Golf Club on Sunday, a record field for the Golf Channel Amateur Tour in Southern California (for a local tournament).  Tijeras Creek was in beautiful condition with firm, fast conditions amongst lush emerald grass.  The green speeds were up which challenged players on a typical, nice spring day in Orange County.   Lastly, pace of play was excellent with no penalties and rounds from 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes!

48-year old Cliff Martin of Los Angeles and 51-year old Bill Poirer fired the low rounds of the Championship on Sunday.  Both players took quite different routes to their low round of 3-over par 75 which resulted in a sudden-death playoff.  Martin would prevail on the 1^st playoff hole to claim the OC Invitational, his 1^st win on Tour.  Mike Gonzales of Redondo Beach played well and was the clubhouse leader for awhile.  Gonzales would settle in at 3^rd place just a stroke back at 76.  Long-hitting Matthew Christensen and Tour rookie Bill Gregg each tied for 4^th at 77. 

Tour rookie Mark Shaefer, playing in his 2^nd event ever, improved by 13 strokes to claim the OC Invitational on Sunday.  Schaefer would go birdie-less, however his round of 77 was more than good enough for the win.  Schaefer, who calls Tijeras Creek his home course, managed the fast greens well and played great.  Brian Gororo of Garden Grove, also a Tour rookie who was playing in his 1^st event, played well and finished in 2^nd place at 81.  Michael Chipp of San Diego would round out the top 3 at 82. 

In the Senior Palmer Flight Arif Shakeel, back to Tour action after a busy 2010, fired the low round of the day, a sparkling 2-over par 78 to win the Senior Palmer Flight. 

Robert Petrakovitz made a disastrous triple bogey to finish his round and he thought his chances at the title were sunk.  Turns out some of the other leaders had some issues closing out their round, and Petrakovitz was able to claim the Hogan Flight with a solid round of 81.  Toby Tollack’s round included a “10”, 4 birdies, and a closing double bogey that forced him to settle in at 2^nd place with an 82.  Jeff Barry of San Diego also finished in 2^nd place with an 82.  Shashank Patel of Yorba Linda carded 3 birdies on his way to a 4^th place finish and 84. 

In the Senior Hogan Flight Ron McCarthy got some redemption from last week.  McCarthy, who lost in a playoff at the Lost Canyons Classic, rebounded nicely firing a 78 to claim the Senior Hogan Flight.  McCarthy’s great round included birdies on 2 and 13.  Roland Jasmann played well and also broke 80, missing the lead by a single stroke at 79. 

In the Sarazen Flight two players were able to navigate the fast greens and break 90.  Tony Anderson of Playa Del Rey and Scott Peters of West Hills tied for the clubhouse lead at 87.  On the 1^st playoff hole, Peters hit his drive right down the middle while Anderson pushed his tee shot into the right rough and trees.   Anderson then hit what he described as “the best 8-iron of my life”, a rocket from 165, to about 20 feet as darkness descended on the course.  Peters would miss the green and make bogey, while Anderson was able to 2-putt for the win. 

In what could have been the greatest playoff in the history of the Senior Sarazen Flight, the 4 players who tied for the lead had to settle for a scorecard playoff as an on-course playoff was not possible due to darkness.  Rod Brewster (88) was officially declared the winner, while Steve Parrish (88), Sesh Ramakrishnan (88), and Robert Dugan (88) all tying for 2^nd place in a very closely contested flight. 

Deon Chen, who had not broken 100 in three previous attempts on Tour, blitzed the Jones Flight by firing an unbelievable round of 83 on Sunday.  David Hawks continues to play well and locked up 2^nd place at 89.  In the Senior Jones Flight Michael Valdepena of San Diego was able to fire a 94 and win the senior division by 3 shots.   John Tyczyki or Ramona finished in a respectable 2^nd place at 97. 

In the Snead Flight David Harper was able to win the event, also shooting a 94 on the day.  Ashley Robertson fired his best round on Tour and continues to keep improving which is great to see.  Ashley fired a 95 to finish in 2^nd place.