Montreaux Golf and Country Club member Steve Sear completed what could be called the NCGA Senior Trifecta.
Sear, who lives in Washoe Valley, Nev., carded a final round 1-under 70 at a steamy Poppy Hills to win the annual NCGA Senior Championship by three shots over runner-up Bob Niger.
Earlier this spring, Sear won the NCGA Senior Four-Ball title playing with partner and longtime friend Randy Haag. In August, Sear won the NCGA Senior Amateur Match Play title at Spyglass Hill.
For Sear, the NCGA Senior Championship victory was also sweet redemption. At last year's championship, Sear finished runner-up to Haag by two shots after Haag finished the event with back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.
"This is great," said Sear, who finished the event with a 54-hole total of 6-under 207. "I was a little disappointed with how things ended last year. It was nice to come back and finish it this year."
Sear made his biggest move in the second round, when he carded a 4-under 67 despite a balky putter that put him in the lead. In the first round, he had struggled at times with his irons on his way to a 70.
"First day, I putted exceptionally well. When I then started hitting the ball better, it's just golf," Sear said. "I missed a lot of putts second round and still shot 67."
In the final round, Sear shot a front-nine 32 with four birdies to build at one point a commanding six-shot lead. With warm, almost tropical conditions, Sear on the back-nine slipped a bit with four bogeys. By then, however, he was too hard to catch.
"I lost it a little bit on the second nine. Even got a little dizzy due to the weather," Sear said. "I struggled the last five holes, but I finished and still shot under par. That's what I'm always trying to do. Shoot under par. I had enough birdies at the beginning of the round to finish it off."
Bob Niger, who earned 2024-25 NCGA Super Senior Player of the Year honors, finished second at 210 after a final round 70. Former champion Mark Morgan placed third at 213.