By Gary Traynham
Jake Spooner of Arbuckle shared the low score and the entire field shared memories last weekend at the annual Almond Blossom Golf Tournament at the Arbuckle Golf Course.
Spooner teamed with David Henriques of Lodi to shoot a nifty 36-hole, 9-under-par 135 for a seven-shot cushion to pocket $550 in the second flight.
“Yesterday was lights out for nine holes, and today we were pretty solid,” said Spooner, a 15-handicapper who shot 4-over-par 40 on the first nine.
Henrigues, an 8-handicap, concurred, “The holes I had to be good on, I was good. (Jake) always plays good.”
While that was their first title, Jeff Thomas, of Arbuckle, and Scott Bement, of Elk Grove, kept their success going in the first flight. Last year’s second-flight champs shot 136 to win by two.
In the gross division, Thomas Steinhoff, of Colusa, repeated as champion albeit with a different partner than a year ago.
Steinhoff teamed with last-minute fill-in Zach Rutherglen, of Willows, to shoot 5-over 77-72-149.
That was one stroke ahead of the teams of Jake Geyer-Tyler Deary (79-71) and Bobby Martinez-Craig McDonald (76-74).
Overall, all the golfers felt like winners renewing longtime friendships.
Paul Juberg, who won $300 in a net skins game, echoed those sentiments. He has played in the event every year but two.
“I started in ’79 and have won only once,” Juberg said. “It’s a great golf course, and the people are so nice.”
John Mannix, who teamed with Bill Anderson, concurred. He has played for over 30 years.
“It looked tough under these conditions, but it was good. I’ve played so many years and know so many. To see the guys once a year is neat.”
The teams of Brandon Ottenwalter-Jordan Brainard and Martinez-McDonald shot 6-under 138 and won $325 for second in the first flight, followed by Adam Horn-Bryan Shadinger and Geyer-Deary at 140.
Ken and Tyler Crandall scored 66-76-142 to tie Hayden Kalfsbeek and David Lee (72-70) in the second flight, one stroke ahead of Mark Champas and Philip Frost.
Steve Ramazzini, of Chico, summed up his two days: “This is one of the few tournaments a low handicapper can play well and win. And it’s just nostalgia. I started in the 1980s. The place doesn’t change and it’s great.”