1998: SCGA finishes strongly to capture inaugural Seaver Cup

Perspective which can only come from future decades will be needed to judge the importance of the inaugural Seaver Cup matches, but time will not diminish the impact of the spine-tingling finish in the first edition of these biennial matches over the historic George Thomas-designed layout at Ojai Valley Inn and Spa.

Using three formats over two days, which began in a driving rainstorm and ended in bright sunshine, the eight-man SCGA squad defeated its Northern California Golf Association counterpart, 25 1/2 to 22 1/2.

The victor received possession of the Cup from Seaver himself who, at age 87, watched much of the play during both days and regaled contestants and officials alike at the opening dinner with reminiscences of his seven decades of golf.

Seaver is one of just two people to hold the SCGA, NCGA and state amateur titles at the same time and a former NCGA president. The biennial matches named in his honor will be held on even-number years.

The competition closer than the score indicated. The scoring formula counted one point for the front nine, one for the back and one for the overall match, a system that kept everyone in the matches.

With rain, heavy at times, pelting the golfers, the NCGA jumped off to a quick lead in foursomes play, scoring 51/2 out of 6 points in the first two matches.

Former two-time NCGA Player of the Year Randy Haag and San Jose's John Ellis opened the matches by rallying to defeat reigning SCGA Mid-Amateur champion Pat Duncan and current SCGA Amateur champion Greg Padilla, 2 1/2 to 1/2. Haag and Ellis won six of the last eight holes, coming from 2-down to square the front nine and then winning the back nine and the match, 4 & 3.

1982 California Amateur champion Gary Vanier and Chico's Jim Wilson extended the margin as they whitewashed current California Amateur champion Ed Cuff, Jr. and his partner, La Crescenta's Keith Kinsel, 3-0. Vanier and Wilson were 5-under-par over their last 11 holes.

Back came the SCGA, behind the teams of former four-time SCGA Amateur champion Craig Steinberg and Scott McGihon and reigning SCGA Senior Amateur champion Frank Merhar and former two-time SCGA Senior winner Ed Rieu, who rallied to close the gap to 6 1/2 to 5 1/2 after the first morning's play as each scored 2 1/2 to 1/2 victories.

Steinberg and McGihon played even-par golf in winning the front nine and the overall match; the back nine was halved when Niger and Watson made birdie on the par-five finishing hole.

The afternoon four-ball matches were equally close -- so much so, that Merhar had to sink a bogey putt by the light of a silvery moon on the 18th hole to pull the matches even, 12-12, heading into the eight deciding singles matches the following morning.

Kinsel and Cuff led the way, rebounding from their morning skunking to shoot 3-under par en route to a 3-0 blanking of two-time NCGA Player of the Year Scott Watson and his partner, Bob Niger.

Merhar and Rieu finished things off, as Merhar won the final two holes to pull out the back nine and square the overall Seaver Cup 12-12.

After nine holes of singles matches the next day, the teams remained tied and the decision was still in doubt until Cuff sank a two-foot par putt to gain a back-nine half in his match against Chico's Jim Wilson.

The 18th was to prove critical throughout the matches, and nowhere was that more true than in the singles. La Crescenta's Keith Kinsel provided an early indication that the SCGA would prevail when he rallied on the back nine in his match against two-time NCGA Player of the Year Scott Watson, finally birdieing the last hole with a 10-foot putt to prevail, 1 up.

Playing right behind Kinsel, reigning SCGA Amateur champion Greg Padilla rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th to win the back nine and the match 1 up against San Jose's John Ellis.

SCGA Senior Amateur champion Frank Merhar preserved his back-nine and match win over Jim McMurtrey when he parred the 18th hole.

And, after Cuff had sealed the victory, 1990 SCGA Amateur and reigning SCGA Mid-Amateur champion Pat Duncan birdied the 18th to finish all square with 1982 California Amateur champion Gary Vanier and provide the final margin of the SCGA's victory.

Inaugural Seaver Cup
at Ojai Valley Inn; Ojai, CA
6,235 yards; par 70
Dec. 1-2, 1998

FINAL RESULTS (scoring is 1 point for front nine, 1 point for back nine, 1 point for total):
SCGA, 25 1/2, Northern California GA, 22 1/2

FOURSOMES RESULTS:

• Randy Haag, San Francisco-John Ellis, San Jose, def. Pat Duncan, Rancho Santa Fe-Greg Padilla, Del Mar, 2 1/2-1/2. Front Nine: All square; Back Nine: Haag-Ellis, 4 & 3; Overall: Haag-Ellis, 4 & 3.
• Gary Vanier, Pleasant Hill-Jim Wilson, Chico, def. Ed Cuff, Jr., Temecula-Keith Kinsel, La Crescenta, 3-0. FN: Vanier-Wilson, 3 up; BN: Vanier-Wilson, 2 & 1; Overall: Vanier-Wilson, 5 & 4.
• Scott McGihon, Bermuda Dunes-Craig Steinberg, Van Nuys, def. Bob Niger, El Dorado Hills-Scott Watson, Sacramento, 2 1/2-1/2. FN: Steinberg-McGihon, 2 up; BN: All square; Overall: Steinberg-McGihon, 3 & 1.
• Frank Merhar, La Jolla-Ed Rieu, Bermuda Dunes, def. Cliff Davis, Suisun-Jim McMurtrey, Danville, 2 1/2-1/2. FN: All square; BN: Merhar-Rieu, 2 up; Overall: Merhar-Rieu, 2 up.
  Team Totals: NCGA, 6 1/2, SCGA, 5 1/2.

FOUR-BALL:

• Duncan-Padilla halved Vanier-Wilson, 1.5 each. FN: Vanier-Wilson, 1 up; BN: Duncan-Padilla, 1 up. Overall: halved.
• Haag-Ellis def. Steinberg-McGihon, 2-1. FN: Steinberg-McGihon, 1 up; BN: Haag-Ellis, 2 & 1. Overall: Haag-Ellis, 2 up.
• Kinsel-Cuff def. Watson-Niger, 3-0. FN: Kinsel-Cuff, 2 up; BN: Kinsel-Cuff, 2 & 1. Overall: Kinsel-Cuff, 4 & 2.
• McMurtrey-Davis def. Merhar-Rieu, 2-1. FN: McMurtrey-Davis, 2 up; BN: Merhar-Rieu, 1 up; Overall: McMurtrey-Davis, 2 & 1.
  Team Totals: SCGA, 6 1/2, NCGA, 5 1/2

FIRST DAY TOTAL RESULTS: SCGA 12, NCGA, 12.

SINGLES:

• Davis def. Rieu, 3-0. Front Nine: Davis, 1 up; Back Nine: Davis, 2 up; Overall: Davis, 3 & 2.
• Kinsel def. Watson, 2-1. Front Nine: Watson, 2 up; Back Nine: Kinsel, 3 & 2; Overall: 1 up.
• Padilla def. Ellis, 2 1/2-1/2. Front Nine: All Square; Back Nine: Padilla, 2 & 1; Overall: Padilla, 2 & 1.
• McGihon def. Niger, 3-0. Front Nine: McGihon, 1 up; Back Nine: McGihon, 3 & 2; Overall: McGihon, 4 & 2.
• Merhar def. McMurtrey, 3-0. Front Nine: Merhar, 1 up; Back Nine: Merhar, 2 & 1; Overall: Merhar, 1 up.
• Haag, def. Steinberg, Van Nuys, 2-1. Front Nine: Steinberg, 1 up; Back Nine: Haag, 3 & 2. Overall: Haag, 4 & 3.
• Wilson Cuff, 2 1/2-1/2. Front Nine: Wilson, 5 up; Back Nine: All Square; Overall: Wilson, 5 & 3.
• Duncan and Vanier halved, 1 1/2 each. Front Nine: All Square; Back Nine: All Square; Overall: All Square.
  Team Totals: SCGA, 13 1/2, NCGA, 10 1/2