By Gary Traynham
ARBUCKLE, CA (MPG) – Tournament director Derick Strain sank a 40-foot putt to win a playoff for the overall title at the annual Almond Blossom Golf Tournament at Arbuckle Golf Course.
The former Cal Poly golfer and farmer earned $100 by topping the A division gross playoff. He won $550 more with partner Cody McCullough of Woodland for first place in the A division net at 63-65-128 and added $250 in the skins game.
Strain hit a tree off the tee on the playoff hole.
“I was lucky,” Strain said.
He followed with a 3-iron and pitching wedge before draining the putt on the ninth hole.
“Running the tournament is sometimes a great distraction from thinking too much about the golf game,” said Strain, who has directed the tournament for eight years. “Experience makes a big difference. This is the first time I’ve ever won gross. I couldn’t have done it without my partner. He hit a lot of dramatic shots.”
The leaders finished tied at 2-under 142 gross.
John Mannix of Sacramento and Michael McFarland of Concord won the B division net title for $550. Kevin Wood of Arbuckle and Todd Nelson of Williams took second for $400. Heath Brunner and Charlie Jorge of Arbuckle placed third for $250. Taylor Cabral of Colusa and David Lee of Arbuckle finished fourth for $150.
After the first of two days, three shots separated nine teams in the A division.
Rick Strain of Williams, Derick Strain’s father, placed third in the A flight with Chuck Nichols of Visalia at 135 for $250. He also won closest-to-the-pin prizes on Nos. 2 and 7. Jason Sweet and Scott Burnum of Arbuckle finished second in the A flight for $400. Derk Ricketts of Scottsdale and Tyler Sharp of Oroville placed fourth for $150.
Players from Northern and Central California and Arizona competed in the tournament.
Cole Ramazzini, an assistant professional at Pebble Beach, played with his father, Steve Ramazzini of Chico. Steve Ramazzini won the gross title a year ago with Tyler Collier.
“I love the greens here,” Cole Ramazzini said. “It was a little ugly for the Ramazzinis today.”
He noted that the Pebble Beach courses are undergoing renovation and predicted improvements at the Spanish Bay course.
Craig McDonald, a former Arbuckle greenskeeper who moved to Bailey Creek 14 years ago, also competed. He has returned in recent winters to help at Arbuckle but entered the tournament for the first time this year.
“This is always a great event,” McDonald said. “I was hitting it good but a lot of putts didn’t go in.”
That proved true for many players on the Arbuckle layout, except for one 40-foot putt that decided the title.