This weekly feature is all about you – your stories, your special accomplishments, your tournament results, and your golf news! This week we feature an article from Peter Camarena who worked as a Marshall this past weekend at the PGA Champions Tournament at Pebble Beach.
If you have a story you would like to submit, please send it to Jennifer Morton at jmorton@hagginoaks.com. All contributions need to be received by Monday to be considered for publication by Wednesday.
My Experience as a Marshall at the PGA Champions Tournament at Pebble Beach
Today’s story is brought to us by Peter Camarena who worked as a Marshall at the PGA Champions Tournament that was held this past weekend down at Pebble Beach.
The PGA TOUR Champions came to the Monterey peninsula for the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee, September 24 – 29, 2019. The 3-day, 54-hole tournament played at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course featured 78 PGA TOUR Champions players, 78 junior golfers (ages 15-18) from The First Tee, and 156 amateurs.
Have you ever considered what it would be like to volunteer at a PGA tournament? I did and so I decided back in July that I would like to do so at this tournament. A friend of mine has done this for many years as a Marshall, and he instructed me how to join his team. We would be stationed on holes 16, 17 and 18 at Pebble Beach.
This is not like the AT&T or U.S. Open where there are tens of thousands of people attending so it allowed me learn in a good environment. As I have played tournament golf for years, I am familiar with the necessary etiquette around a course but there are a few more rules when you’re a Marshall. I was given these at a meeting on Thursday morning.
On Friday, I was stationed on the 16th tee with the paddles. As each group came to my area, I tried to make eye contact with the players and the caddies. Some were only concentrating on what they needed to do while others started a conversation, especially if they had to wait to tee off.
On Saturday, I was on the tee at 17. The wind was pretty strong from right to left that day and a lot of the amateurs, First Tee and even a few pros hit their shots short or left into the bunkers.
On Sunday, I was assigned to the 17th green. The weather was great and in between groups I had a wonderful view of the bay, the 18th tee and fairway and enjoyed some of the most beautiful scenery in the world!
It was amazing to see these professional players up close and how they handled a shot. It was even more amazing to watch these First Tee Players. Their handicaps were between 0 and 8. Sam Sommerhauser from First Tee of Greater Sacramento was paired with Kirk Triplett and claimed the male Pro-Junior title. They finished 23-under.
Will I do this again? Absolutely.
Sacramento’s Week in Golf
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“The depth of talent on the Sacramento State women’s golf team was showcased during the opening round of the Golfweek Conference Challenge on Monday as the team recorded five scores between 72 and 75. The Hornets were led by Sofie Babic and Nishtha Madan who each shot an even-par round of 72. Sydney Smith added a 73, Corinne Viden shot 74 and Tess Blair recorded a 75…”
Sam Sommerhauser from the First Tee of Greater Sacramento paired with Kirk Triplett to win the Pure Insurance Championship event this past weekend down at Pebble Beach where youth players get paired with PGA professionals.
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Course, City, State Date
Haggin Oaks GC Sacramento, CA 9/29/19
Score Name City, State $ paid
Division I
71 Kyle Souza Santa Rosa, CA $1,650
72 Corey Pereira Cameron Park, CA 1,035
73 Taylor Lowe Davis, CA 350
Division II
81 JW Means III* Reno, NV $1,845
81 Paul Toussaint Sacramento, CA 700
82 Richard Knight Kelseyville, CA 300
*Winner of 2-hole Sudden Death Playoff
Tuesday: The Falcons defeated the Cougars 210 to 291. It was a hot breezy day and the Falcons achieved a low 9 hole score at Bing of 210. Consistency in scoring is the Falcons trademark. This is how the team wins matches by scoring in a tightly packed group. Check it out 40,41,42,43,44 = 210. Our goal after CAL#1 was to score 2-oh-something, we are as close as we can get, and achieving this next milestone is within our grasp. Hats off to Brie Briggs ‘23 who fired a cool 43 to help us get this low score.
Wednesday the 25th the Falcons fly east to Vista to challenge the Eagles, CAL #1 team. The group is going up with nothing but low scores in mind. We are taking a very aggressive, “let-it-rip” attitude to try to take down the Eagles. Aggressive play, with the attitude of let’s, see what is possible if we go for broke? A real shoot-out approach. Go Falcons!
Wednesday: The Falcons took on the Eagles of Vista Del Lago, Vista is clearly the top team in the league and CB went into this match known they had a tall task. Vista fired 192, with their #1 player shooting a 33 in including an eagle, birdie, birdie start to the first three-holes. CB responded with a 212, with Anna Horan ’21 and Alison Oliviera carding 39’s. There were some long faces at the end of the day but CB has been consistent all year long. The team’s average for 9 holes is 213 and they did best that by 1 stroke. We were up against a very special team in VDL and performed as we have, there is a real feeling among the Falcons that our best scores are still ahead of us. With a little more work and finding a stroke here and there, the goal of scoring in the “2-oh-something” range is within reach. It is easy to forget that a year ago our best 9-hole round was 221!
Be tough Falcons, keep up the good work, the pay-off is still out there!
- Tuesday, October 8, 2019 – TaylorMade Tuesdays Free Ball Fittings – 10 am – 2 pm – Haggin Oaks Golf Complex – 3645 Fulton Avenue, Sacramento, CA
- Wednesday, October 9, 2019 – Weekly What’s New in Golf Facebook Live With Ken & Jen – 10 am – 10:30 am – Haggin Oaks Golf Complex Facebook Page which you can find here.
- Friday, October 4, 2019 & Saturday, October 5, 2010- Criquet Golf Apparel launch Event– 11 am – 2:00 pm each day – Haggin Oaks Golf Complex – 3645 Fulton Avenue, Sacramento, CA
- Saturday, October 5, 2019 –Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Demo Day – 11 am – 2:00 pm – Haggin Oaks Driving Range – 3645 Fulton Avenue, Sacramento, CA
P.S. Have you recently made a Hole-in-one? Let us know here.
Have you recently won a tournament or would you like to submit a special interest story? Let us know by sending an email to Jmorton@hagginoaks.com.
