After weeks of play, the 2015 SCGA Team Play season drew to a close Sunday. One of the most popular SCGA programs, SCGA Team Play began in 1900 and has grown to include more than 245 clubs and 8,000 participants each year.
For the second straight year the Thursday Finals featured a matchup between Red Hill CC out of Rancho Cucamonga and The Los Angeles CC (Cardinal). However, the results reversed, as The Los Angeles CC avenged its Finals loss from last year in a 28-20 victory.
Things seemed to be going Red Hill CC's way to start the day, as the defending champions jumped out to a 19-9 lead. But the trailing groups for The Los Angeles CC managed to secure 19 of the final 20 points to help their team to its first title since 2003.
In the Saturday Bracket, Industry Hills GC won a thriller over Rio Bravo CC, sinking a clutch chip and then a clinching putt, both on 18, to force a tie and win in a playoff. Due to impending darkness, the two lead groups participated in an in-case-its-needed playoff while two matches were still on the course, with Industry Hills coming out on top after Team Captain Steve Martin drained a 15-foot birdie putt. It turned out, it was needed, as a 40-foot chip-in on 18 by the second-to-last group of the day gave Industry Hills a fighting chance at a comeback.
With the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean and both teams surrounding the 18th green, Richard Myers sank a 20-foot downhill putt to win his match and tie the overall score at 24-24. With the playoff having already been decided, the Industry Hills GC team erupted, knowing the win was theirs.
For Industry Hills, just like The Los Angeles CC team, the win was their first SCGA Team Play win since 2003.
The finals were held at Sandpiper GC in Goleta. Previously home to the SCGA Match Play Championships, this is the third time the Team Play Finals was held in Santa Barbara County. The 6,392 yard layout offers an enjoyable, yet demanding, test of golf. The course overlooks the Pacific Ocean and offers stellar views.