Robert Gautney: Hoss' 1-under 69 good enough to win Kern County Senior title
| Wednesday, May 27 2009 09:37 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, May 27 2009 09:37 PM
You can now add a Kern County Senior Championship to Hank Hoss' Kern County Amateur title he won 24 years ago.
Hoss, now 58, was the only player to break par in the field of 96 players on Wednesday in the 59th Kern County Senior Championship at Foss-Kern River.
Hoss shot a 1-under 69 and basically won the tournament when he canned a 10-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th, although in the make-your-own-foursome format, you never really know how the rest of the field is doing.
"Today was one of my better ball striking days," said Hoss, who won the Kern County Amateur in 1985 and also won the Tulare County Amateur in 1987. "I had seven putts of 10 feet or less; I just didn't putt very well for having the ball that close."
The eagle by Hoss gave him a two-shot margin over runner-up Dennis Jones, who carded a 1-over 71, three shots over Gary Powers and four shots over Bob Gibson and Bill "Spike" Lackey, who were equal fourth at 73.
Hoss had two other birdies to go along with his eagle and had three bogeys. The 2008 winner Junior Kennedy, who shot a tournament record 6-under 64 last year, was unable to participate.
Although complete records are not available, Hoss joined Doug Denesha as winners of both the Kern County Amateur and Kern County Senior Championship. Denesha won the Senior title in 2000 and won the KC Am back in 1976. It is not known if anyone else has won both.
Gibson was awarded the age 50-55 gross title with his 73, Chris Craven with a 2-under 68 was low net.
In the 56-60 age flight, Jones with his 71 was the gross winner with Powers the net winner with a 66. The 61-65 winner was Lackey with his 73, while Ron Miller had a net 66 to take the net crown.
In the 66-69 age group, Mike Duey shot a 76 to win the gross and David Gallagher was low net with a 65. For the "older guys," Tom Craig shot a 74 to win the 70 and over while low net went to Lowell Manzer with the days lowest net round at 7-under 63.
CALIFORNIA STATE AMATEUR QUALIFYING
No local players finished in the top five in the final California State Amateur qualifying event at Cypress Ridge in Arroyo Grande last week.
It took an even-par 72 to earn a top five spot to advance into the CSA finals June 22-27 at Lake Merced GC in Daly City.
The best local was MJ Morin, who shot a 74 to tie for 14th while DJ Fernando was equal 20th with a 76 in the 51-player field. Other local players who competed were Scott LaBare, who won the BV/NK Men's Club championship last week, Gary Hallstrom and Mitch Bronson.
Bakersfield will have two competitors in the State Amateur -- John Balfanz and Bryce Holloway. They will play 36 holes of stroke play to try and finish in the top 32 and a spot in match-play.
SCGA AMATEUR QUALIFYING ON HORIZON
Qualifying for the 110th SCGA Amateur Championship begins today and there will be six sites through June 10. The Championship will be July 17-19 at the Wilshire CC in Los Angeles.
So far, Bryce Holloway is in the championship field with an exemption, while many local players will be attempting to qualify. Results will be in this column as they are received.
KERN COUNTY 4-BALL
Entries are being accepted for the Kern County 4-Ball Championship June 27-28 at the Haggerty-North Kern golf course.
Entry is $170 per team and includes fees and range balls. Deadline is June 25.
The Kern County 4-Ball is the second of seven Sports Authority/Michelob Ultra Player of the Year Series tournaments in which the top 10 gross scoring teams will earn points towards the 2009 Kern County Player of the Year title. The Arvin City Amateur in April is the only tournament completed so far with Valencia resident Brian Edick the winner.
The 4-Ball is a 2-player better-ball and team players must be within seven index strokes of each other or the higher handicapped player must play down to that figure.
Players that do not have a partner will be placed with a similar handicapped player. Call 399-0347 to enter as a team or individual.
FREE JUNIOR LESSONS
The Foss-Kern River and Haggerty-North Kern golf courses will conduct free junior golf lessons over the next two weeks.
Kern River will hold its clinic next Monday through Friday with instruction from 9-10:30 a.m. each day while North Kern will hold their clinic the following week Monday through Wednesday from 9-10:30 a.m.
Both clinics are for juniors under age 17 and clubs will be provided for those who do not have them. Instruction will include all areas of the swing, rules and etiquette.
Advanced sign-up is not necessary at either course; just show up a little early each day. For more information, call KR at 872-5128 and NK at 399-0347.
TOURNAMENTS
* May 31 at RiverLakes Ranch, the Junior Golf Academy of Bakersfield scramble to raise funds for a team trip to Port St. Lucie, Fla., to play in the Nations Pepsi Golf Challenge at the PGA Village. Entry is $100. Call Mike Moore at 496-0631.
* June 13 at Mifflin-Buena Vista, Central Cal Intensity scramble to raise funds for the CCI traveling team. Entry is $100 per player. Contact 398-0740 to enter, sponsor a hole or donate to the cause.
* June 19 at Bakersfield Country Club, the Joey Porter Golf Tournament to raise funds for Foothill High Athletics. Entry is $250 per person. Call BCC at 871-4121 or Eddie Rice at 599-3746. There will be a silent auction at the awards reception that will include NFL items.
CHIP SHOTS
* The BV/NK Men's Club tournament will be June 21 at North Kern. It's a super skins. Call either pro shop to enter.
* The Central Section Boys' High School Golf Championship will be today (Thursday, May 28). The event was moved from Tuesday due to scheduling conflicts. See The Bakersfield Californian Sports section for results of our local high school players.
Tee to Green appears weekly at Bakersfield.com/sports. You can reach Gautney at rgautney@bak.rr.com.
