Duncan Wins Golf Title for Fourth Time

Pat Duncan sat in the players’ bar at the Torrey Pines Golf Course Sunday drinking his congratulatory beer and gripping what seemed like more hands than he did clubs during the 72-hole San Diego Men’s Amateur golf championships.

But for Duncan, it was a typical scenario.

Duncan took the lead on the 67th hole and then held on to defeat Steve Haase and Clinton Whitelaw by a stroke to become the first golfer to win four San Diego Men’s Amateur titles and the third to win the tournament three consecutive years. Duncan’s one-under-par 71 on the South Course gave him a two-under 286 for the tournament.

“It’s probably better than any of the other ones,” Duncan said. “But then again, that’s hard to say.”

By the ninth hole, the tournament became a duel between Duncan and Haase in the first group and a charging Whitelaw in the second. Craig Anderson, who had a two-stroke lead after three rounds, was four-over after the first nine and finished tied for third at 291. Whitelaw, who was two behind Duncan and Haase to start the final round, finished with a 70.

Haase was two-under on the front nine to take a one-shot lead over Duncan. But while Duncan methodically plodded along the back nine, Haase began to scramble and finally paid the price on the 396-yard, par-four 14th hole. Haase scrambled out of trouble on the 11th, 12th and 13th holes with some excellent chip shots.

But his chipping couldn’t help him on the 14th.

Haase’s tee shot landed 20 yards behind a tree and his second shot hit the tree.

“I was going to take it around the corner of the tree but I bladed it,” said Haase, who took a bogey on the hole.

Duncan was the only player in the group to reach the green in two. He sank a six-foot putt for a birdie and the lead.

“He doesn’t do anything spectacular,” said Danny Clifford, Duncan’s caddie. “But he gets within five feet and makes them. He’s got nerves of steel.”

Duncan needed them Sunday as a constant morning drizzle had slowed the greens to a crawl. Haase lipped a four-foot putt on the 17th to trail by two and finished the round with a birdie on the par-five 18 for a par 72.

Duncan joined Art King (1952-54) and Tommy Johnson (1947-49) in winning three consecutive tournaments. Both King and Johnson turned pro after winning their third titles. But Duncan said he is content with playing as an amateur and running his landscape contracting business.

Duncan almost didn’t play in the men’s amateur this year when he was invited to play in the British Amateur.

“That’s where the golf game was invented,” Duncan said. “That’s where it all started. I thought real, real strong about going. I think I’ll go next year when it’s in Scotland. But then again, nobody has ever won four straight.”