Stonetree GC & Match Play 2023

We had our September monthly tournament at Stonetree Golf Club in Novato on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, and, our Season-long Match Play Tournament ended with a new Match Play Champ.

It was our first time playing Stonetree which we chose at the suggestion of a few members. Stonetree is a notoriously tough, windy and winding track. It played to all three last Tuesday as demonstrated by the scores. We had 24 players go after the course. The low score was Richard Meyers’ 85 and no one broke net par, with Michael Beler’s net even par 72 being the best net score.

It was also a beautiful day out there, it started a touch cool and warmed up nicely. The wind started light and picked up slightly as we got to the back nine. The wind wasn’t howling as it can out there, but the course presented challenges with a penal rough that balls sat down in and narrowed the fairways. We were presented with another challenge, an unusual one on California golf courses, MOSQUITOS! Yes, the back nine was a mosquito haven. If you weren't lucky enough to get a spray of repellant from the beverage cart, they probably made a meal of you!

L & J Match Play Finals

Kelly Park and Jeff Cobb played close match at The Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay that took 19 holes to decide the 2023Champion. In the end, Jeff came out on top. They both shot 90. Kelly was up two holes through 10 but played a wrong ball at 11 and the momentum changed. Jeff got to two up with three to go, but Kelly refused to go down and tied it up through 18. Jeff won the 19th hole to earn the trophy.

In his semi-final match Jeff had to get by 2021 Champion Josh Brownstein. It took Kelly 22 holes to get by a tough Nolan Lowry in their semi-final match at Metropolitan GC in Oakland. Lowry led throughout the match, going 2 up with 2 to play. Park won 17 and on 19 Lowry unfortunately missed a hole-tying putt that would have won the match. Both players had opportunities to win on the first 3 playoff holes but Park squeaked out a par on the long par 4 4th for the win. As Nolan said after the match, "the only lead you had all day was on the 22nd hole!"

STONETREE WINNERS

Gross Score

Richard Meyers, 85

Calvin Larson, 86

Michael Berg, 89

Net Score

Michael Beler, E, 72

Pete Hansen, +1, 73

Donn Ginoza +5, 77

Closest to Hole

Hole 3, Hansen, 7'2"

Hole 8, Hansen, 4'9"

Hole 10, Jonathan Nightengale, 3'5"

Hole 17, Jim Sullivan, 9'9"

Congratulations to all our winners. Prizes will be emailed to you, watch for emails from Worldwide Golf.