Erickson, Sepp, Foggia, Licausi, Bingham, Ship Win Desert Inn Classic Titles
Craig Erickson (Championship), Rick Sepp (Senior) and David Foggia (Silver) won gross titles at the 2024 SNGA Desert Inn Classic. Jay Ship (Net), Jim Licausi (Senior) and Brent Bingham (Silver) won net titles in the tournament held July 27-28, 2024, at historic Las Vegas National GC. –by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider
Championship
Craig Erickson, who won the season-opening Tournament of Champions, is back in the winner’s circle.
Erickson used a solid opening round to set the stage as he put three birdies on the scorecard through the first 17 holes before closing with his lone bogey of the round. The second day, Erickson birdied three of his first seven holes en route to a three-stroke victory.
“I had two birdies and two bogeys today,” Erickson said. “It was just a typical Craig Erickson round.”
Erickson said it was a good two days, except on the greens.
“I can’t say I putted bad but I just didn’t make any putts,” said Erickson, who works for a mechanical contractor. “I had a lot of chances but they just didn’t go in.”
He said the course was definitely a great test.
“It’s a tough golf course,” he said. “And it was pretty breezy both days so that added to the challenge. I just kept it in play and stayed out of trouble…that’s my game.”
Championship
Craig Erickson, 69-71—140
Alex Forristal, 72-70—142
Grant McKay, 71-73—144
Net
Jay Ship had net birdies on the first two holes of the tournament en route to an eight-stroke victory in the Net Division.
It was Ship’s first SNGA win in two years.
To go along with the opening-round early two birdies, he also closed out the tournament with birdies on the final three holes, two net and one natural.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve been worthy of one of these phone calls,” Ship said with a laugh.
He said the first round put him in great position but the eight-stroke victory wasn’t as big a runaway as it would seem.
“Today, in the middle part of the round, I had a big lead,” he said. “And then, rather than play good golf, I lost a ton of focus. I think one of the guys got within a shot or two and, whether I wanted it or not, that was the wakeup call I needed. It ended up being a good finish and a good win.”
He said the 16th hole proved pivotal.
“I got up and down on that hole and that was big,” he said. “It’s a par-3 and 190 yards and it was playing into the wind today. That’s a lot of hole for me. I hit it to a good spot and hit a good pitch shot to about four feet and willed in that putt. That’s when I thought it was mine.”
Net
Jay Ship, 66-71—137
Lonnie Wilson, 75-70—145
Jerry Algeo, 71-74—145
Senior
It took Rick Sepp three years to go from win No. 1 in 2021 to win No. 2 in 2024.
It took him just four weeks to put victory No. 3 on his resume.
Sepp overcame a first-round struggle and wound up winning by six strokes in a round that was highlighted by holing out his second shot on the 17th for an eagle.
Despite the eagle chip, Sepp said it was his putter that made the difference.
“I still have some demons from my old putter,” he said. “But the more putts I make, the confidence keeps growing.”
Sepp said his move back to a long putter has made all the difference.
“I did use a broomstick putter about 10 years ago before it was banned,” he said. “Then I went to a convential putter and had problems with the short putts. I found a long putter I could work with and it’s worked out pretty well.”
He added despite the slow start the first day, he knew he was still in the hunt.
“I was only three shots from the lead but figured if I shot close to par or slightliy under I might have a chance,” he said. “I got off to a steady start and then finished strong with the eagle-birdie finish and wound up shooting four-under.”
Senior
Rick Sepp, 76-67—143
Robert Futrell, 73-76—149
James Corey, 76-74—150
Senior Net
Jim Licausi won for the first time in 2024, picking up a scorecard victory in the Senior Net Division.
Licausi won one tournament in 2022 as well as once in 2023 so he’s back on his one-win-per-year run.
“It’s nice to see my name up there every once in awhile,” Licausi said.
But, he admitted it was quite the test.
“To be honest, I struggled both days with the speed of the greens,” he said.
In that end, Licausi said the final hole was just what every golfer wants to experience.
“It got exciting when Artie (Miller) and I were in the last group,” Licausi said. “We were tied. He put his second shot in the water and I had a horrible lie. I just had to punch out. Then I hit a wedge shot to about eight or nine feet but burned the edge for a birdie. Artie hit his wedge to about 12 feet and had to drain that 12-footer to tie me and he made it. Hats off to Artie.”
Licausi also gave a tip of the cap to the SNGA staff.
“I’ve got to give a lot of thanks to Ann Sunstrum, Sue May, Tim Quinn and the rest of the rules officials,” he said. “Without them we wouldn’t be able to play. It’s great having them out there and we’re appreciative of everything they do.”
Senior Net
Jim Licausi, 71-71—142
Artie Miller, 71-71—142
Carl Arnold, 71-73—144
Silver
David Foggia eagled the 18th hole to break out of a logjam and won the Silver gross title by a stroke.
It was Foggia’s fourth win in 2024 and third in the last six weeks.
“My game is in a good place,” Foggia said. “I’m always critical that it can be better but today was pretty fun.”
And nowhere was that more evident than the back nine.
“It was kind of strange,” he said. “All day I was sliding putts past the hole. I didn’t have a birdie until No. 13 and then I birdied the 15th and made about a 20-footer for eagle on 18 to win by one.”
He said there was no doubt where the group stood late in the round.
“Halfway through the back nine I said, it’s like anyone can win this,” he said. “I made those two birdies and the eagle to shoot 32 on the back. It was amazing…I don’t know where that came from.”
He said the 18th hole is one he won’t soon forget.
“I played it three-under-par for the two days,” he said. “That was a great way to end it each day.”
Silver
David Foggia, 76-71—147
David Curley, 78-70—148
Gary Carpendale, 77-71—148
Silver Net
Brent Bingham had a first round to remember as he cruised to his first SNGA title, winning the Silver Net crown by 10 strokes.
Bingham has won before as he won the silver net title in the 2023 Nevada State Senior Amateur.
Bingham had net birdies on five of his first seven holes and his four finishing holes as he posted a first-round net 63.
“I played really well yesterday,” he said. “I just hit the ball well, chipped good, putted good…just did everything well. I didn’t get in any trouble and that’s always a good thing.”
He summed it up with one quote: “Every now and then you get hot and play good golf…it’s that simple.”
He said the victory will give him momentum going forward.
“I won the state silver net last year and then I won here,” he said. “It’s definitely a confidence booster.”
He said his game is coming around…and quickly.
“I’ve been working on a few things and it’s starting to pay off,” he said. “The last couple of week’s I’ve played well and I’m trying to keep my mind positive going forward.”
Silver Net
Brent Bingham, 63-70—133
Loren Little, 69-74—143
David Kim, 73-72—145
