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SCGA rallies to win 6th Seaver Cup Matches, 25-23
Rich Tolly’s 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole wins the Cup

The SCGA team of Tim Hogarth, Scott McGihon, David Bartman, Rich Tolly, captain Steve Titus, Boyd Martin, Jason Bittick, Kevin Marsh, and John Pate won the 6th Biennial Seaver Cup, 25-23. Photo by Katie Denbo/SCGA.

By Robert D. Thomas
LA QUINTA, November 19 — For the second consecutive time, an eight-man Southern California Golf Association team rallied on the final day, this time overcoming a four-point deficit to score a 25-23 win over the Northern California GA in the sixth biennial Seaver Cup at PGA West.

Two years ago, the SCGA rallied from a seven-point deficit on the final day to forge a 24-24 tie to retain the cup. Overall, the SCGA now leads the series, 3-1-2. The next matches will be played in 2011.

Trailing 14-10 after the four-ball and foursomes competitions yesterday, the SCGA won the singles matches 15-9, on the Pete Dye Stadium Course. Jason Bittick of Coto de Caza and 2008 SCGA Amateur champion Kevin Marsh of Henderson, NV each swept all three portions of their matches (one point is awarded for the front nine, one point for back nine, and one point for the overall match, with halved portions earning 1/2 point for each player).

Two of the eight team members for each association had to be seniors and they played pivotal roles in the SCGA victory. Rich Tolly of Laguna Hills, the 2007 SCGA Senior Amateur champion, rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the 405-yard 18th hole to secure the victory for the SCGA. With that birdie, Tolly won the back nine against Jim Knoll of Sunnyvale and squared the overall match; those 1.5 points proved to be the margin of victory.

“I didn’t know what that final putt was for,” said Tolly after his match, “and I didn’t want to know. I figured things were pretty tight because everyone was standing around the 18th green.” Tolly was 186 yards from the hole and pulled out a 4-Rescue club. “Normally I can’t hit that club that far,” said Tolly, “but I was pretty juiced up and figured I could get it there.” The ball landed on the front of the green and rolled up to within 15 feet, setting the stage for the final putt.

The SCGA’s other senior, Boyd Martin of Corona del Mar, won 2.5 points against reigning California Golf Association Senior Amateur champion Jeff Burda of Modesto. Martin termed the ninth hole, when he got up and down from a bunker for a half point, as a key moment in the match.

On the back nine, Martin won the 11th hole with a birdie 4 and also made birdie 4 on the famed 16th hole (avoiding its 20-foot deep bunker in the process). A par 3 on the 17th hole, with a green surrounded by rocks and water, closed out the match.

Other SCGA point winners included 2004 SCGA Amateur champion Tim Hogarth of Northridge, who won 2.5 points from Randy Haag of Burlingame, and 1999 SCGA Amateur champion John Pate of Santa Barbara,who won 2 points against Jonathan Carlson of Kelseyville.

For the NCGA, Jamie Looper of Oakdale won 3 points by sweeping former three-time SCGA Amateur champion Scott McGihon of Bermuda Dunes, and Brett Viboch of Lafayette took 2.5 points from David Bartman of Los Angeles.

In the day’s most lopsided match, Bittick birdied four consecutive holes on the back side to take control of his match against Hollinsead, the reigning NCGA Amateur Stroke Play champion; with the usual match-play concessions, he shot 4 under par for 17 holes. Marsh was 1 under par in his match against Marin and birdied the 18th hole to win the back nine and the overall match.

For complete, hole-by-hole scores, click HERE.

North leads South, 14-10, after first day of Seaver Cup Matches

Jonathan Carlson (left) and Matt Hollinsead swept their afternoon foursomes match to lift the NCGA to a 14-10 lead. Katie Denbo/SCGA.

LA QUINTA, November 18 — An eight-man Northern California Golf Association team stormed back from a four-point deficit in the afternoon to take a 14-10 lead heading into tomorrow’s singles matches at the sixth biennial Seaver Cup matches at PGA West.

After trailing 8-4 following the morning four-ball matches at the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, the NCGA won the foursomes (alternate shot) matches this afternoon on the Pete Dye Stadium Course, 10-2, to take a four-shot lead.

The NCGA senior pair of Jeff Burda and Jim Knoll and its youngest team, Matt Hollinsead and Jonathan Carlson each won three points, while the team of Randy Haag and Chris Marin 2.5 points in their matches (one point is awarded for the front nine, one point for back nine, and point for the overall match, with halved portions earning 1/2 point for each player).

There will be eight singles matches tomorrow morning, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The NCGA needs to win 10.5 points to win the cup; the SCGA needs to win 12 points to retain the cup. Last year, the SCGA rallied from a seven-point deficit on the final day to forge a 24-24 tie and retain the cup. Overall, the SCGA leads the series, 2-1-2.

For complete, hole-by-hole scores, click HERE.

View a photo gallery of the entire field and download photos HERE

Biennial Seaver Cup Matches to be held Nov. 18-19 at PGA West
Eight man teams from Southern California and Northern California to compete

SCGA Player of the Year Kevin Marsh (left) will lead the SCGA team in the Seaver Cup Matches, while Jeff Burda will play in the NCGA's senior component. Photos by Katie Denbo/SCGA and Scott Seward/NCGA.

LA QUINTA, November 13 — Reigning SCGA Amateur champion and 2008 SCGA Player of the Year Kevin Marsh will headline a team of eight Southern California Golf Association players who will compete against an octet from the Northern California GA in the sixth biennial Seaver Cup matches November 18-19 at PGA West.

The matches will be played for the first time at PGA West.  The first day of competition (Tuesday) will feature four-ball matches on the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, followed by foursomes matches on the TPC Stadium Course.  The second day will be eight singles matches played on the TPC Stadium Course.

Marsh, who lives in Henderson, NV but belongs to La Cumbre CC in Santa Barbara, will be joined on the Seaver Cup team by former three-time SCGA Amateur champion Scott McGihon of Bermuda Dunes, 2004 SCGA Amateur champion Tim Hogarth of Northridge, David Bartman of Los Angeles, John Pate of Santa Barbara and Jason Bittick of Coto de Caza.  McGihon is the only SCGA player to have competed in all six Seaver Cups...MORE