NCGA/NCPGA Cup Matches: Bettencourt, Hamilton Put On Display.

Sports Editors/Golf Writers & Columnists

ORINDA, Calif.--(BW SportsWire)

Player of the Year Matt Bettencourt and U.S. Amateur runner-up Robert Hamilton were as brilliant as the clear and sunny skies Tuesday at Orinda Country Club while leading the Northern California Golf Association against the Northern California Professional Golfers Association in the 35th annual Cup Matches.

Bettencourt and Hamilton won two points with a birdie barrage as the NCGA took a narrow 6-4 lead in the regular division. In the 11th senior division event, however, the NCGA managed only a win and two ties to fall behind, 4-2.

The competition concludes Wednesday with 10 singles matches in the regular division and 12 in the senior. In morning foursome (alternating shots) play, Bettencourt (Modesto) and Hamilton (Carmichael) birdied six of the last 10 holes to defeat Tracy Stansberry and Rick Liebovich, 4 and 2.

That was just the beginning. In the afternoon four-ball matches, Bettencourt and Hamilton were 9-under for 12 holes for an 8 and 6 victory over Dana Jetter and Kenny Collins. Hamilton birdied the first five holes (Bettencourt birdied three of them, too). Bettencourt, also the NCGA Amateur champ, shot 31 the front nine and Hamilton 32, with a bogey.

Chico's Brian Jones and Pleasant Hill's Scott Hardy also won twice. They were 5-under during their foursome victory. Then, in four-ball play, they were 7-under for a 1-up victory over Shawn Kelly (Antelope) and Lance Johnson of Hillmar.

Super seniors (70-plus) Bobby Fries of Fresno and Chuck Van Linge of Palo Altos played 3-under-par golf for the only NCGA point in the senior division.

The professionals have not won in the regular division since 1996, although there have been two ties. The NCPGA still owns a 15-12-7 overall lead. NCGA senior teams have won six of the previous 10 competitions..

Following are complete results from Tuesday's play:

Regular Division

Morning Foursome (Scotch) Matches

Shawn Kelly, Antelope, and Lance Johnson, Hilmar, NCPGA, def. Darryl Donovan, Gilroy, and Jim Wilson, Chico, 2-up; Jon DeChambeau, Clovis, and Nick Ushijima, Stockton, NCGA, def. Mike Paul, Cupertino, and Bobby Siravo, Sacramento, 1-up; Matt Bettencourt, Modesto, and Robert Hamilton, Carmichael, NCGA, def. Tracy Stansberry, San Jose, and Rick Leibovich, Salinas, 4 and 2; Shawn McEntee, Los Gatos, and Ric Burgess, Colusa, NCPGA, def. Jim Hay, Fremont, and Tony McBroom, Stockton, 4 and 3; Scott Hardy, Pleasant Hill, and Brian Jones, Chico, NCGA, def. Dana Jetter, Pleasanton, and Kenny Collins, Kingsburg, 5 and 3.

Afternoon Four-Ball

Stansberry and Leibovich, NCPGA, def. DeChambeau and Ushijima, 2 and 1; Paul and Siravo, NCPGA, def. Hay and McBroom, 3 and 2; Hardy and Jones def. Kelly and Johnson, 1-up; Donovan and Wilson, NCGA, def. Burgess and McEntee, 1-up; Bettencourt and Hamilton, NCGA, def. D. Jetter and Collins, 8 and 6;

Team scoring: Northern California Golf Association 6, Northern California PGA 4.

Senior Divison

Four-Ball

Super seniors: Bobby Fries, Fresno, and Chuck Van Linge, Palo Alto, NCGA, def. Ken Towns, Penn Valley, and Frank Lopez, Oakland, 2 and 1; Seniors: Gary Plato, San Jose, and John Joseph, Tracy, NCPGA, def. Reg Bailey, Antioch, and Jay Guerin, Fremont, 1-up; Butch Sheehan, Reno, and Rick Jetter, Los Gatos, NCPGA, def. Bob Callan, San Francisco, and Dave Parsons, Benicia, 3 and 2; Jim Collart, El Dorado, and Doug Caldwell, Woodland, NCPGA, def. Cliff Davis, Suisun, and Robert Olds, Brentwood, 1-up; Bob Heaton, Antioch, and Jim Ono, Cupertino, NCGA, and Calkins and Buzzini, halved; Roly Lamontagne, Stockton, and Earl Stewart, Fairfax, NCGA, and Peter Nilles, Pacific Grove, and Paul Biocini, Modesto, halved.

Team scoring: Northern California PGA 4, Northern California Golf Association 2.