August 15, 2024
NCGA Hall of Famer Randy Haag isn't done etching his name into the record books just yet.
On Thursday, Haag notched yet another accomplishment, defeating friend Robert Funk, 1-up, to go back-to-back and win his record fourth NCGA Senior Amateur title at Spyglass Hill. A member at The Olympic Club, for Haag the four wins have come in pairs. In 2016 and 2017, Haag also repeated as champion.
At age 65, Haag is now eligible for NCGA Super Senior events. But at least for now, he has no plans to move up. It's not like Haag hasn't shown he can still compete with guys 10 years younger than him. Last season, Haag won NCGA Senior Player of the Year honors.
"I think it's very cool," said Haag, who notched his 10th career NCGA Senior title, leaving him just three wins behind all-time leader Jeff Burda "I still have my speed and length. As long as I do, I'll play in the Senior events. I love the guys, the people and the NCGA. If I think I can win, then I am going to keep playing in Senior events."
As for the friendship, Funk and Haag are no strangers. In 2022, the two paired up to win the NCGA Senior Four-Ball Championship.
This time around, however, the No.2 seeded Haag and No.20 Funk were foes.
After see-sawing back-and-forth for 17 holes, on the par-4 18th hole both players came up just short of reaching the green in regulation. Funk pitched up, leaving himself a 4-foot putt, while Haag pitched up to within 3-feet. Funk's par putt missed, while Haag's fell in.
Through the front-nine, Haag built a 2-up lead thanks in part to a double-bogey and bogey by Funk on the 5th and 6th holes, respectively. Later, after tying the 15th hole with matching birdies, Funk on No.16 got a much needed win when Haag--for the first time ever--knocked his drive on the hole so long that it went out-of-bounds. A hole later on the 17th Haag made a bogey to bring the match back to even.
"He had some bad breaks. I just wasn't able to capitalize on them," said Funk, who in 2020 won both the NCGA Senior Championship and California Senior Amateur at Poppy Hills. "I needed that putt on 18, and it just didn't happen."
In his quarterfinals match against No.7 Ron Ewing, Haag also came to the 18th hole with the match tied. In that match too, Haag would win it 1-up with a par on the 18th.
"I always really enjoy playing with Robert," Haag said. "It was another close one on a great golf course. Spyglass is one of my top five courses on the planet."
August 14, 2024
The semifinals are set for this week's NCGA Senior Amateur Championship at Spyglass Hill, and there's some familiar faces.
Following a grueling day that saw players (ages 55-plus) compete in both the Round of 16 and quarterfinals, the four emerging survivors were No.8 seed Tony Ralph, No.20 Robert Funk, No.2 Randy Haag and No.27 Paul Rice.
Ralph punched his ticket to the semis thanks to a 3 and 2 win over No.17 Mike Rowley. Holding a 1-up lead through the first nine, Ralph later tacked on a a pair of par wins on the 13th and 16th holes to claim the win. In both 2021 and 2023, Rowley, the CEO of Straight Down Clothing, won the NCGA Senior Four-Ball Championship at nearby Poppy Hills.
Ralph will next take on Funk, who squeaked by Scott Anderson, 1-up in the afternoon quarterfinals. In 2020, Funk had a year to remember, winning both the NCGA Senior Championship and California Senior Amateur at Poppy Hills. An NCGA member through AmateurGolf.com, Funk's NCGA resume also includes victories at the 2021 Senior Amateur (Match Play) and 2022 Senior Four-Ball Championship with Haag.
Haag, an NCGA Hall of Famer, has plenty of experience winning the Senior Amateur. The now-65-year-old Olympic Club member has won the event a record three times. He'd move on to the semis via a 1-up win over No.7 Ron Ewing. On the closing 18th, Ewing made a bogey to Haag's par.
With a win this week, Haag will have won 10 NCGA Senior events. Haag will take on Rice, who advanced with a 2-up win over No.3 seed Chris Miller.
Thursday's semifinals will begin at 7:44 a.m. at Spyglass Hill.
August 13, 2024
Some familiar faces took care of business in the Round of 32 at Poppy Hills on Tuesday.
No. 1 seed and 2023 NCGA Senior Championship winner Mike Stieler had a routine day on the course defeating No. 32 seed and 2020 champion Richard Petit, 5 and 4.
Stieler only had two bogeys on his round with his lone birdie coming on the par-4 7th hole.
Stieler will take on No. 17 seed Michael Rowley in the Round of 16. Rowley, who was one of three co-medalists during Monday's qualifying round and is the CEO of Straight Down Clothing, survived a 19-hole thriller against No. 16 seed Mark Sanchez.
It was deja vu for No. 2 seed and NCGA Hall of Famer Randy Haag. His opponent was No. 31 seed Rod Campbell.
In 2023, Haag defeated Campbell, 3 and 2 to win his third Senior Amateur title at Spyglass Hill.
Haag made sure a different result did not play out in the sequel as he eliminated Campbell with a 6 and 4 victory. Haag had six birdies on the day.
Other notable matches included a 21-hole thriller between No. 4 seed Bill Bunce and No. 29 seed Jay Ward. Ward would pull off the upset against Bunce as he punched his ticket to the Round of 32.
The biggest upset victory belonged to No. 28 seed Daniel O'Connor who defeated No. 5 seed and two-time NCGA Senior Player of the Year Mark Morgan.
O'Connor made par on holes 15 through 17 while Morgan bogeyed the par-3 15th hole and the par-3 17th hole.
O'Connor's path does not get any easier as he will take on 2022 champion Scott Anderson.
Anderson who is the No. 21 seed came out of the gates soaring with an eagle on the par-4 1st hole.
He would add four more birdies to the scorecard to take care of No. 12 seed Barry Soichner, 8 and 7.
The championship will now shift down the road to Spyglass Hill on Wednesday for the Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches.
The semifinals which take place on Thursday and the 18-hole championship final will also be held at Spyglass Hill.
August 12, 2024
Sixteen players clinched their spots in the 18th annual NCGA Senior Match Play Championship during Monday's 18-hole qualifier at Poppy Hills.
Three players took home co-medalist honors--Santa Cruz native Peter Wood, Mark Sanchez of Kentfield and Michael Rowley of San Luis Obispo all finished with a score of 1-over 72.
Wood will be the No. 15 seed while Sanchez and Rowley will be the 16th and 17th seeds respectively when match play begins on Tuesday morning.
The cutline for players to qualify came in at 6-over par 77. 2020 champion Rich Petit made the cut right on the number like he did in 2023.
The No. 1 seed will belong to Mike Stieler of Ripon. Stieler, winner of the 2023 NCGA Senior Championship, made it to the quarterfinals during the 2023 edition.
The match to watch for in the Round of 32 will be a rematch of the 2023 final between No. 2 seed and NCGA Hall of Famer Randy Haag and No. 31 seed Rob Campbell.
Haag and Campbell battled for the 17th NCGA Senior Match Play Championship at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Haag defeated Campbell, 3 and 2 for his record-breaking third NCGA Senior Match Play Championship.
The Round of 32 will be played on Tuesday morning at Poppy Hills. On Wednesday, the Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches will be held at Spyglass Hill.
The semifinals (Thursday) and the 18-hole final (Friday) will be held at Spyglass Hill.