Player Information/Pairings/Results
June 24th, 2025
It was a championship Tuesday at Poppy Hills as three champions were crowned in the 61st NCGA Senior Net Championship.
Here is a recap of what unfolded in each division.
Yosemite Division
Three players had stellar rounds but Granite Bay native Jim Sroka shined the brightest at Poppy Hills.
Sroka finished at 17 under par to capture the Yosemite Division title. He shot a 8-under 63 to finish six shots ahead. He had three net eagles on the front nine.
Finishing in a tie for second place was Craig Beaven and Izumi Tada who finished at 11 under par.
Beaven got the second place medal since he shot an 11-under 60 for his final round. Tada shot a 63 but got a net ace on the par-3 11th hole.
Golden Gate Division
The Golden Gate Division came down to the 36th hole in regulation. Sunnyvale native Tom Holden made par to grab the Golden Gate crown.
Holden finished at 2-under par 140 for the championship which is one clear of Portola Valley, Calif. native John Moore.
Holden opened his final round with a net eagle on the first hole and followed that up with six birdies on his round.
Moore posted a 2-under 69 for his final round. The Half Moon Bay Men's Club member made six birdies at Poppy Hills.
There was a two-way tie for third place between Matt Brody and Richard Welsh. Brody got third place via card off after he shot an even par 71. Both men finished at 1 over par for the championship.
Big Sur Division
Only three players finished under par in the Big Sur Division and all of them earned medals.
Ukiah, Calif. native Matt Howard took home the title as he finished at 4-under par which was one shot clear of San Jose native Tom Norman.
Howard made par on the 18th hole while Norman made a double bogey. Howard had a net eagle on the par-4 7th hole.
San Jose native Bruce Kakimoto finished at 1-under par for the championship to take home third place.
First Round
The 61st NCGA Senior Net Championship teed off at Poppy Hills this week. 95 players are divided up into three divisions as they look to become an NCGA Champion. Here is a first round recap from each division.
Tee times on Tuesday will start at 7:30 a.m. and groups will tee off on holes 1 and 10 at Poppy Hills.
Yosemite Division
Granite Bay native Jim Sroka grabbed the first round lead with a 9-under 62 which puts him four shots clear of his nearest competitor.
Sroka had two net eagles on the par-4 3rd hole and the par-5 4th hole. That scorching stretch included a birdie on the par-4 5th hole.
He would close out his round with three straight birdies on holes 16 thru 18.
Sitting at 5-under par for the championship is Moss Beach, Calif. native John Mccardy. Mccardy started his day on the back nine where he would have two double bogeys on holes 11 and 12.
He turned around his day with net eagles at the par-4 1st hole and the par-5 ninth hole.
Sitting in third place is Napa, Calif. native Izumi Tada at 2-under par for the championship.
Golden Gate Division
There are only three players under par in the Golden Gate Division with two players sharing the lead after 18 holes.
Bill Villareal and Ernie Maumasi shot 3-under 68 to have the overnight lead.
Villareal who is a Poppy Hills Club member had a net eagle on the par-4 3rd hole and birdied the par-5 4th hole. The Carmichael, CA native who started the tournament on the back nine made three bridies on his final four holes on his front nine.
Maumasi also had a net eagle on the par-4 3rd hole to shoot a 68. He has four Weekend Net Tour wins this year and will be looking to add a Senior Net Championship to his trophy room tomorrow.
Richard Welsh is the only player under par and is only one shot back. The Willows, CA native posted a 2-under 69 for his round. Welsh had a roller coaster scorecard which featured seven birdies and five bogeys.
Big Sur Division
There are only four players that are under par heading into the final round.
Roseville native Frank Taylor leads the way at 2 under par. The Timber Creek Golf Club member made four birdies in a row on holes 4 thru 7. Taylor shot a 4-under 32 on the front nine.
He will have a one shot lead over three players which are Tom Norman, Matt Howard, and Eric Jarvis. All three shot 1-under 70.
Defending champion Louis Leidelmyer shot a 5-over 76 as he sits in a tie for 18th place.