8th Annual CGA, State, Senior Championship; Eastlack Surprises, Wins Title.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.--(BW SportsWire)--June 25, 1999--

Two against one isn't fair.

Even three-time and defending champion Jim McMurtrey couldn't overcome those odds -- and the fine play of Menifee's Tom Eastlack -- in Friday's final round of the eighth annual California Golf Association (State) Senior Amateur Championship.

Eastlack, with vital help reading the greens from wife and caddie, Melody, birdied the final hole with a one-foot putt and dethroned McMurtrey by a shot at Poppy Hills Golf Course. It was the first victory by a Southern California player since play moved to Poppy Hills in 1994.

Eastlack closed with a fine 1-under-par 71, the only sub-par effort of the day. He went into the final round with a 74-75--149 total, three strokes behind Santa Monica's Bud Bradley. His 220 total was just enough to beat the consistency that has given McMurtrey the advantage so many times before when he collected three titles.

McMurtrey recorded 17 pars and a single bogey. "I had my chances," said the 66-year-old of the missing elements. "I just didn't take advantage of them." McMurtrey shot 77-71-73--221.

Third place went to another Southern California player. Bob Wernick from Rancho Mirage equaled par-72 on the final day and finished at 76-74-72--222 and probably would like to have played another round.

Bradley suffered two double bogeys in the first nine holes and was not able to overcome those lapses. He shot 79 and was among those who finished at 225. La Jolla's Frank Merhar, tied with McMurtrey at 148 going into the final round, was fourth at 223 after shooting a closing 75.

Eastlack did not know how he stood going to the final hole. He shot a fine 36 on the opening nine, despite a double bogey-7 on the ninth. He made birdies on Nos. 10 and 16 against bogeys at Nos. 13 and 17. The tap-in birdie on the 18th came after a brilliant chip from nearly 50 yards left of the mounded green and the flagstick tucked deep to the right.

Melody did know the status. She had been instrumental in his success throughout the day.

"I don't say anything until she has read the putt," said Eastlack. "Today she was perfect."

Eastlack was asked he had been nervous during the day. "Yes and no," he said. "It's always nice to have your wife around. We're best friends."

Does Eastlack always listen? "No. That's why I have ulcers," smiled Melody. "I know his game better than mine." Her ulcers were much better after the final scores had been tabulated.

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     Following are the final scores:

     220 - Tom Eastlack, Menifee, 74-75-71.
     221 - Jim McMurtrey, Danville, 77-71-73.
     222 - Bob Wernick, Rancho Mirage, 76-74-72.
     223 - Frank Merhar, La Jolla, 78-70-75.
     225 - Paul Kay, Encino, 77-75-75; Bud Bradley, Santa Monica,
               72-74-79; Jerry Hutton, Long Beach, 75-74-76; Bob
               Heaton, Antioch, 81-72-72.
     226 - Roly LaMontagne, Stockton, 79-70-77.
     227 - Cliff Davis, Suisun, 78-73-76.
     228 - Robert Irwin, Whittier, 76-78-74; Al D'Amato, La Quinta,
               77-75-76; Ed Rieu, Palm Desert, 79-72-77; Earl Stewart,
               Fairfax, 79-74-75; Joe Dudley, San Jose, 80-71-77;
               David Ellis, Roseville, 80-74-74.
     229 - Preston Davis, Manhattan Beach, 74-80-75.
     230 - Larry Carr, Bakersfield, 75-76-79; Peter Daley, Costa Mesa,
               76-77-77.
     231 - Dennis Carunchio, Escondido, 81-73-77.
     232 - Spence Beard, Westchester, 78-76-78; Dick Dallagiacomo,
               Anderson, 79-75-78.
     233 - Art Arns, Rancho Santa Fe, 79-75-79.
     237 - Brian Marshall, Ventura, 78-76-83; Bob Kovash, San
               Francisco, 79-74-84; Tracy Sergeant, Rodeo, 79-75-83.
     239 - Jack Essex, Riverside, 79-75-85.