News & Events

 

Winter’s discontent was forgotten, and the 150 golfers who turned-out June 3 to celebrate the San Francisco Public Golf Alliance’s Sixth Annual Alister MacKenzie Tournament to Save Sharp Park enjoyed fog in the morning, bright sun and wind in the afternoon, and Dr. MacKenzie’s beautiful seaside links all day long.

 

There was much to celebrate. Since the Fifth MacKenzie Tournament in June, 2016, San Francisco’s long-term plan to preserve the historic 18-hole Sharp Park links, while enhancing habitat in the wetlands, obtained final approvals from the Rec & Park and Planning Commissions and San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

 

On June 3, the golfers responded with record low scores. In the foggy early morning round, a San Francisco First Tee foursome led by mentor/ringer David Chung – a young San Francisco businessman who was runner-up at the US Amateur in 2010 when he was a Stanford junior –posted a gross score of 16-under-par 56. This was two shots better than the 58 posted by a Cal Club team led by former PGA touring pro Roger Tambellini. 

 

Team Fandel Shot 54!

 

Then, in the sunny, breezy afternoon round, the golf got really serious, as two teams shot gross scores of 18-under-par 54. A team from the Silicon Valley private equity firm Silver Lake, composed of young principals Kyle Paster and Mike Widmann and their friends Tom Logan and Jimmy Cacho, rolled-in 16 birdies, one par, and one eagle. Less conventionally, a Fandel Retail team comprised of Clayton Fandel, Ryan Macaulay, Matt Regnart, and Max Stillman -  all golf team alumni from Pacifica’s Terra Nova High School - had four eagles, including hole-outs from the fairway at Holes 10 and 14 – enroute to their 54.  

 

So did Team Silver Lake!

 

So of course we had to play it off – with a closest-to-the-pin shootout from the 150 yard marker in the center of the fairway to the 10th green, in front of the clubhouse. The teams hit alternate shots toward the pin from all four team members. The third to shoot for Team Fandel was 25-year-old Max Stillman, a server at Nick’s Restaurant in Pacifica, who in the Fall will attend U.C. Davis to study golf architecture. Earlier in the day, Max had holed his shot from 130 yards on the same 10th  hole. This time, his shot from 150 yards hit the pin and lipped-out of the hole, coming to rest 18 inches away, drawing a shout from the gallery. Silver Lake captain Kyle Paster, the last person to hit, came up 10 feet short of the pin. And that was that. 

 

Other notable scores and shots from a long day of golf came from: Lyn Nelson, Julie Gonzalez, Terrence Yallop, and Devin Dougherty   (Low Women’s Team, 69); Closest-to-the-pins Jay Blasi (4’10”), Peter Gleichenhaus (7’8”), Cat Colima (13’2”), Linda Kress (18’10”), and Gail Rogers (19’7”). Prizes were also awarded for the day’s average and highest scores, but modesty forbids more detail in these columns.

 

In addition to San Francisco First Tee, junior teams included the Oakland and Silicon Valley First Tees, and high school teams from Lowell, St. Ignatius, and Terra Nova in Pacifica. 

 

A Gallery of photos from a great day (in no particular order):

 

A good sign.  

 

Historic Clubhouse. Public Golf Alliance co-founder Bo Links

and Sharp Park Golf Club president Butch Larroche.

 

A cup of kindness -  Golf Alliance co-founder Bo Links and

Sharp Park Golf director Jeff Volosing at the bar

 

NCGA:  Poppy Holding CEO Brad Shupe, with NCGA Directors Gail Rogers

and Stacy Baba, continue the NCGA’s long-time support for Sharp Park.

 

That’s Emmy -  California Alliance for Golf Director Emmy Moore-Minister, with 

Joel Stewart and past USGA Executive Committeeman Dr. Merton Goode.  

 

The Architect

 

Raising the Flag on No. 14 - Sharp Park heroes Joel Stewart, Chuck Diakon, and Bill Clements.

 

You’re telling me 58 isn’t good enough?  - Former PGA touring professional Roger Tambellini led his team of 

Dawnet Beverley, Jimmy Chian, Linda and Mike Kress to a gross 58, the second-lowest score in the morning.  

 

Sign-in -  Tournament co-director Lisa Villasenor (glasses) at the desk.

 

Tee Prize and Essential Message - Mike Wallach, Bob Feldscher,

Brad Knipstein & Stuart Jones on 17th tee.

 

Bright red sox. Kish Rajan and Tom Isaak (seated) discuss sartoria beside the practice green.

 

Just happy it’s over. - Tournament co-chairman Richard Harris heads for the BBQ line.

 

Practice green. - Yui-Hay Lee warms up his putter on a cold, foggy morning.

 

Lunch line. - Burgers on the grill, with the third hole and Sweeney Ridge in the background. 

 

St. Ignatians on the 10th Green. - Caitlin Colina, sisters Esme and Monsie Fiero, and Grace Bettis. 

 

Lowell Girls at 11th Tee. - Denise Moi and Stephanie Sunga.  

 

Green with a view. - 18th green, with the Pacific in the distance

 

Birdie putt on the13th green.  

 

Approach to No. 2. - Scott Mitchell poses while teammate Curt Vass scopes

the yardage and Ashvin Sangoram and Donn Levine look on hopefully.

 

Lake Merced Club President David Estas tees-off on Hole No. 1.