Randy Haag of Orinda, California, outdueled Robert Funk of Canyon Lake, California, to capture the Society of Seniors Founders Cup on Thursday at Sandpiper Golf Links in Goleta, California.
It’s been a sterling year for Haag (above), a Global Golf Post first-team All-Amateur selection in the Men’s Senior division. He came into last week having won three times in 2021, including the recent California Senior Amateur, so it was no surprise to see him atop the leaderboard in another marquee event.
Haag started the final round of the 54-hole event up by four strokes ahead of Funk, the 2020 California Senior Amateur winner and recent Northern California Senior Amateur Match Play champion. It looked certain that Haag would pull away when he birdied the opening hole, but bogeys at Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 7 narrowed the margin slightly. Funk made two bogeys of his own in the first four holes and could not capitalize on Haag’s miscues. Ultimately, Haag birdied No. 9 and they both went out in 2-over 38.
Despite a two-shot swing on the par-3 11th that let Funk get to within two strokes, he could not get any closer. Haag went 1-under for his final seven holes, closing out any comeback hopes for Funk and securing a two-stroke victory.
RESULTS
Kevin Marsh, the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion, and Nathaniel Crosby, two-time winning Walker Cup captain for the United States, have been named as the captains for the West and East teams, respectively, for the 2022 East West matches. The second playing of this amateur competition will be held Nov. 3-6 at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas.
Marsh was the co-captain of the victorious West squad in the inaugural competition last year, also played at Maridoe.
Two 18-player teams, comprised of senior amateurs, mid-amateurs and elite post-college players, will compete across three days. The teams are selected through a points system based on performance since last year’s event. The format consists of four-ball matches on Friday, followed by two sessions of foursomes on Saturday and 18 singles matches on Sunday.
Patrick Christovich nipped Nathan Smith on the 18th hole of the final match to claim a 23-22 victory for the West team in a dramatic event debut in 2020.
Staff and Wire Reports