After months of play and more than 100 teams in each division, Saticoy CC and Red Hill CC emerged victorious Sunday in the 2017 SCGA Team Play Finals, held at Classic Club in Palm Desert. Battling heat in the high 90s and late afternoon winds, 64 competitors ended a grueling Team Play season that began with 230 teams and nearly 8,000 individual competitors. The four teams to advance to the Finals, which also included runner-up finishers Canyon Crest CC and Los Coyotes CC, made their way through regular season action as well as playoffs to reach the finals, where they competed in both singles matches and a best ball competition before crowning the eventual champions.
In the Thursday division, Saticoy CC earned its first championship since 2006, winning by the score of 37 to 11. Leading the way was 2015 SCGA Amateur Champion Nathan Celusta, who shot a 68 on his own ball, teaming up with playing partner Brian Shim to lead their pairing to a clean sweep of all six available points. The duos of RC Jones/Roger Erickson and Joe Cervantes/Ted Bustamante also swept their available points. Canyon Crest, who was playing in its first SCGA Team Play Finals, secured individual match victories from Andrew Anderson and Phillip Branstetter.
"It was my first year as captain, and I was lucky enough to just have a great team," said Saticoy Captain Tony Perez. "I'm very proud of this entire team. Every single one of them is an MVP in my book."
En route to the finals, Saticoy beat out 2015 Champs The Los Angeles CC (Cardinal) in the semis, Wood Ranch in the quarters and Santa Maria CC and Spanish Hills G&CC previously.
Over in the Saturday division, Red Hill CC edged out Los Coyotes CC 29-19 to earn its first Championship since 2007. Red Hill, who beat out 2012 Champs Bear Creek in the semifinals, relied on solid play off the clubs of Wally Sinner/Mark Regus II and Kevin Roy/Ron Robbins to secure the victory. Both duos swept all six of their available points. John Mack, captain of the squad, shot the low round of the day in the Saturday division, carding a 72 off his own ball.
"It feels pretty sweet," said Mack after the conclusion of the round. "To make it to the finals is quite an accomplishment in itself, but to come out victorious against a competitive team like Los Coyotes is great. I couldn't be more proud of every single team member."