Wes Payne will have another NCGA Valley Amateur Title in the trophy case.
Payne, a native of Berkeley, finished his masterpiece as he won his second straight Valley Amateur title at Old Greenwood in Truckee.
Payne shot an even-par 72 to finish at 11-under par for the championship which was nine shots clear of two-time Valley Am Champion Jason Anthony who finished at 2-under par.
After tying the NCGA record for the lowest 18-hole round in a scratch event on Monday, the two-time reinstated amateur simply played par golf on Tuesday.
The Claremont CC member had 16 pars for his final round. He made his only two bogeys of the week on the par-4 4th and par-4 5th holes. He would make up for it with birdies on the par-5 10th hole and par-5 12th hole.
Payne becomes the fifth player to go back-to-back at the Valley Am. It’s his third career NCGA title in the last 12 months.
Third place was a tie between Chris Marin and Jeremy Gearhart at 143 after final rounds of 72 and 75, respectively. Marin was awarded third place in a card-off (lower round of the day).
Bob Niger will have another year of being called 'Mr. Senior Valley Am.'
The Sacramento native kept his foot on the gas pedal shooting a 5-under 67 to pull away from the field and win his second straight Senior Valley Am crown in Truckee.
He joins Mark Morgan as the only two players to successfully defend the Senior Valley Amateur title.
Niger, who is the reigning Super Senior Player of the Year was the lone man to finish under par at 10-under 134, which set a tournament record in the senior division. He broke the previous mark which was set at 138 by Jeff Wilson in 2020, Jeff Burda in 2021 and Casey Boyns in 2023.
Mark Sanchez of Kentfield finished runner-up at 1-over par 145.
Niger had a bogey-free final round. He made five birdies on his round to complete another stellar two days in Nevada County.
