Beauty and the Beast: Merced Golf and Country Club made harder for county amateur

Normally, Mike Waller takes pleasure in watching low scores roll of his home course.

The smiles. The high-fives. The fist pumps.

It's part of his job description as Merced Golf and Country Club's head professional.

But for one weekend, Waller will revel in seeing some of Northern California's best amateurs, young and old, squirm, squeal and swear.

With tricky pin locations, deep rough and 100-degree temperatures, Waller's beauty will be transformed into a beast for Saturday's start of the 36-hole Merced County Golf Championship.

"It's going to be rough," he said. "Of course, I take some satisfaction in it."

Experience may play a factor -- and there will be plenty of it as a record number of senior amateurs converge on the rural 6,519-yard track for the two-day event.

"It's almost like this is a major for the seniors," Waller said. "In the past, it was a major tournament for the championship flight. It's funny how it's switched."

The tournament will also feature a championship flight but in stark contrast to its past, the biggest draw will be the senior competition.

When registration is complete, Waller estimates that the senior flight will feature a field in the 50s, with several of the Northern California Golf Association's best in the mix.

Fifteen of the top-20 players have committed to the tournament, including Robby Thompson (MGCC), Jeff Burda Del Rio Country Club), Conrad Nilmier (San Joaquin), Herb Jensen (Del Paso), Mark Miller (Roddy Ranch) and Rob Adolph (San Joaquin).

Knoll (4-under, 140) is the defending champion, holding off former trophy winner Burda by one stroke (141).

Ken Webb (143) and Sunnyside's Greg Saiki (146) rounded out the top four.

Burda leads the current NCGA senior points standings with 996 points, 34 clear of Miller.

From there, the competition falls off. Knoll sits in third comfortably, but he trails Burda by more than 250 points.

Thompson, the only local listed in the top 29 players and a former Merced County champion, is 13th in the standings with 267 points.

But the county amateur offers hope; a chance for the field to bridge the gap. Or for leaders Burda and Miller, to pull away and leave no doubt.

First place will net a sanctioned golfer 125 points, while a runner-up finish is worth 85.

The course won't bow to age.

Waller made sure of it.

"I didn't actually mow the greens," he started, "but I've made sure the pins will be tough and the rough up."

Stamina and shot-making will be the difference on Sunday, especially on the back-nine where holes 13 and 16 wait like ball-hawking dogs.

One errant swing, bad bounce or momentary lapse in concentration will leave a golfer reaching for a new ball.

No. 13 is a short par-5 that dog-legs to the right, features out of bounds along the left and tempts golfers with a risk-and-reward challenge on the second shot.

A creek sits less than 10 feet off the green, daring golfers to fly the water hazard.

Those that reach the green may find themselves standing over an eagle or birdie putt.

Those that don't...

Splash!

No. 16 will also be dripping with drama. The 367-yard par-4 begins on an elevated tee box that stares down at a green protected by a lake.

On Sunday, with a frontside right pin location, an approach 5 yards right of the target could end up with the fishes.

The winner will finish under-par, Waller said, but not by much.

"I imagine 2- or 3-under is what it will take to win," he said. "I set the course up to be pretty difficult, but the winner will have to come in under par.

"We let the rough grow up a little, but not a whole lot. On Saturday, the pins will be pretty benign but on Sunday ... on Sunday, it's going to be brutal."

On the young and old.

James Burns is managing editor/sports editor of the Sun-Star. He can be reached at jburns@mercedsun-star.com.