Greetings APT Players,

An excited field of 18 was on hand for the sixth event of the season for the Northern California Chapter of the Amateur Players Tour. Players were met with hot temperatures, a light breeze, and an enjoyable golf course. Playing a PGA Tour venue is always a treat, and we will all enjoy watching or attending the opening of the 2022 PGA Tour Season in mid-September and remember a situation or shot we faced just like the pros.

Before the event recap, I did want to note a milestone moment we had at Silverado. The big moment we had was the first Southern California member participated in a Northern California event. Over the coming years, this type of moment will become a standard practice, but for today it was special and one I will always remember. Dennis McZeal made the trip north to Napa from his home in Fontana to play in our event at Silverado. I had to take a selfie with him once he arrived at check-in! Hopefully, this is the first of many occasions when North Cal and South Cal players participate at each other’s events. Thanks again Dennis and I look forward to seeing you in Southern California at Olivas Links in Ventura on the 18th of July and in Reno / Tahoe at Old Greenwood and Toiyabe on July 30th and 31st.

In Division 1, Ony Velez of Gilroy, CA was our champion for the day with a 79 +7. Ony was awarded a $75 gift card and a branded barrel trophy! Ony shot 40 on the front and led Kent Kao by two. Ony made par on the 10th while Kent made double, resulting in a four-shot lead and ultimately the final victory margin for Ony. This is Ony’s fifth victory on tour this year. It was a good day for both Ony and Kent as each of them made critical birdies on the par 5 9th and 16th. These holes were the winning holes in both the Division 1,2,3 skins pot as well as the Super Skins pot. This resulted in a total Skin win of $270 for each player. Congrats guys!

In Division 2, Billy Witt of Kelseyville, CA was our champion for the day with an 80 +8. Billy was awarded a $75 gift card and a branded barrel trophy! The battle between Billy and runner up Matt Fegley was close throughout the day as both players were never ahead or behind by more than two-shots. The event would be decided in the closing four holes after both players exited the 14th green at +8. Billy would finish the closing four holes at even par, capped with a birdie on the 18th and claim a two-shot win.

In Division 3, new member Jeremy Mason of San Jose, CA was our champion for the day with an 80 +8. Jeremy was awarded a $100 gift card and branded barrel trophy! Jeremy shot an opening nine of 37 which was good for a five-shot lead over Nathaniel Berumen. Nathaniel would cut the lead to three after starting the back nine with four straight pars. It was an unfortunate triple bogie on the 14th for Nathaniel that would push the lead back out to five. Both players would finish the remaining four holes one stroke apart resulting in the closing margin of four shots for Jeremy.

In Division 4, Don Harris of San Francisco, CA was our champion for the day with a 90 +18. Don was awarded a $125 gift card and branded barrel trophy! New member Thomas Noble’s opening nine of 46 was good for a one-shot lead, but Don played very well on the back shooting a closing nine 43. This is Don’s fourth victory of the year. Thomas did make a few critical pars on the front, and he was able to claim two skins in the division 4/5 pot and took home $80. Although Thomas did not get the win, a little cash in hand probably made the ride home a bit better.

In Division 5, Felix Monjes was our champion for the day with a 93 +21. Felix was awarded a $125 gift card and branded barrel trophy! It was another battle between Felix and fellow Division 5 ironman John Spradling. Unlike Coyote Creek, where John took an early lead, it would be Felix who would jump out to a seven-shot lead after a very solid opening nine 44. John would get to within four after the 10th and 16th, but Felix battled hard making a par on the 11th and bogie on 17th to keep John at bay. We will see both these players battle again in Reno / Tahoe at the two-day event at Old Greenwood and Toiyabe on July 30th and 31st.