Robert Gautney: Patel sets Seven Oaks record with 10-under 62
| Wednesday, Jun 03 2009 09:55 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Jun 03 2009 09:55 PM
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Bhavik Patel tees off during Sunday's Kern County Amateur Golf Championship at Foss-Kern River Golf Course.
You can add another course record for current Fresno State University sophomore Bhavik Patel.
Patel, who just concluded his freshman year at FSU by participating in the NCAA Western Regionals, recorded eight birdies and an eagle on Tuesday at Seven Oaks Country Club to set the course record with a 10-under 62 playing the Oaks and Lakes nines.
Patel was playing with John Balfanz, Greg Hash and Steve Rodzant and the former BHS star put together a 9-under stretch in a 10-hole span.
"I guess you could say I was playing well, but when we finished it didn't seem like I shot 62," said Patel, who was the 2008 Sports Authority/Michelob Ultra Player of the Year. "There was nothing spectacular in the round except for maybe the eagle putt on the fourth hole on the Lakes nine."
Patel, who shot a 9-under 63 last year for a course record at The Links at RiverLakes Ranch, shot a 4-under 32 on the Oaks nine, finishing with birdies on the seventh and ninth holes. That started his stretch run as he added a birdie on the first hole on the Lakes nine, then after consecutive pars, he eagled the par-5 ninth with a 30-footer from the fringe and made three birdies in a row on numbers 5-7 to get to 10-under. He had a chance to go lower but missed out on birdie putts on the last two holes.
"Yeah, I knew I was at 10-under after the birdie on the 16th (Lakes No.7), but I just couldn't get another one," said Patel. "The 63 at RiverLakes was the lowest I had shot, so just going lower than that is pretty awesome."
Although there don't seem to be exact records, amateur Chris Zumbro shot a 63 and Mike Heinen shot a 62 during a Nike Tour event when Seven Oaks was only 18 holes, but since the expansion, Patel is the only known player to have shot 62 on any combination of nines.
In case you are wondering, Balfanz shot a 72, Rodzant a 75 and Hash a 79 as they watched Patel set the record.
No luck in SCGA qualifying
Bakersfield amateurs were shut out in qualifying for the 110th SCGA Amateur at two sites during the past week.
At the SCGA Club in Murietta, Dave Westerfeld and Kirk Harper finished 40th and 50th, respectively in the 78-player field. It took a 1-under 71 to earn one of seven qualifying spots and Westerfeld shot a 77.
At the Crystalaire CC in Llano, Scott Anderson led the way with an even-par 72, but missed out on a chance to qualify by one shot. There was a playoff at 1-under 71 for the last of five spots. Anderson was equal 7th.
Scott LaBare was 23rd and Bill Frankhouser, Jr., was 37th for the other top finishes by local players. Others who participated included Gunner Kirschenmann, DJ Fernando and Chris Underhill.
The SCGA Amateur Championship will be July 17-19 at Wilshire CC and currently only former Highland High star and current San Jose State junior Bryce Holloway has qualified to play in the tournament.
Kern County 4-Ball Championship
There is still plenty of time to sign-up for the Kern County 4-Ball Championship at Haggerty-North Kern June 27-28. Entry is $170 per 2-player team.
The 4-Ball is one of the seven Sports Authority/Michelob Ultra Player of the Year Series tournaments in which the top 10 earn points towards the 2009 Player of the Year title. The Arvin City Amateur in April is the only tournament contested so far with Valencia resident Brian Edick winning.
Team players must be within seven index strokes of each other or the higher handicapped player must play down to that figure. The club will place players that don't have a partner will like ability partners.
Teams or individuals can enter by calling the NK pro shop at 399-0347.
Junior golf lessons at Kern River and North Kern
Today (Thursday) and Friday will conclude the Foss-Kern River free junior golf lessons while Haggerty-North Kern will conduct its free junior lessons June 8-10.
Each course has lessons from 9-10:30 a.m. each day offered. Juniors 17 and younger are welcomed to participate and clubs will be provided for those who do not have them.
No advance registration; just show up. Instruction will be in all areas of the game including rules, sportsmanship and etiquette.
Chip Shots
* The CIF Southern California Regional High School Championship was rained out on Wednesday at the SCGA Club in Murietta and is re-scheduled for today (June 4).
* The Kern River golf course will conduct a Cleveland Golf Demo Day on June 13 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Players can try out all Cleveland equipment and the course will be offering discounted prices.
* The Central Cal Intensity Fundraiser golf tournament will be June 13 at BV. Entry is $100. Call 398-0740 to enter or to sponsor a tee or hole.
* The Joey Porter Fundraiser Golf Tournament will be June 19 at the Bakersfield Country Club. Entry is $250 per player. There will also be a silent auction for sports memorabilia and other items at the awards luncheon. Call Ed Rice at 599-3746.
* The North Kern/Buena Vista Men's Club will hold their monthly tournament at NK on June 21. The event will be a Super Skins. Call either course pro shop to enter.
Tee to Green appears weekly at Bakersfield.com/sports. You can reach Gautney at rgautney@bak.rr.com
