Mike Perchak has done something that no other NCGA player has ever done.
Competing at the NCGA Valley Amateur, Perchak posted a record first-round score of 12-under 61 at par-73 Dragonfly GC in Madera. The course was playing at 6,867 yards. The previous all-time low for 18 holes for an NCGA championship was a 10-under 62 shot by Trevor Clayton at the 2014 NCGA Valley Amateur at the Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton.
"Holy moley!," Perchak said. "I'm a little speechless after this. I am so truly honored to have set the record. There have been so many great players that have competed in NCGA events."
The list of greats includes names such as Ken Venturi and Johnny Miller and fellow NCGA Hall of Famers Casey Boyns and Randy Haag.
A 33-year-old property manager from Alamo, Perchak opened his round with a blistering, seven-birdie 7-under 29 on his front-nine. After making the turn, he'd card a 32 after adding three more birdies and an eagle on the par-5 13th. There, Perchak just missed out on going deeper with an albatross. His second shot, a 5-iron from 202 yards out, landed just 6 inches from the flagstick.
"The guys in my group thought it had gone in," Perchack said.
He'd hit all 18 greens in regulation, and not once faced a putt longer than 25 feet.
"I've been working so hard on my game. I just tried to stay one shot at a time," Perchack said. "After the front-nine 29, I told myself I was starting from scratch. Just using some little psychological tricks."
