Albert Corral used a hot putter to help him and playing partner Jesse Ferris take a one stroke lead over Andrew Perez and Brandon Gama after the first round of the 50th annual Santa Barbara Classic golf tournament on Saturday at the Santa Barbara Golf Club.
Corral, who won the tournament’s A Flight last year, birdied three of his last four holes and had six birdies and an eagle on the day to lead his team to a gross score of 10-under par 60 in the 36-hole, two-man, best-ball event. He and Ferris, teammates at Santa Barbara City College last season, shot 29 on the back nine.
But they were unable to break away from Perez and Gama, who are one shot back at 61. Perez, the Santa Barbara City champion who is trying to become the first golfer since 2006 to win the “double,” made five birdies and an eagle on No. 9.
Gama delivered four birdie putts in his round.
Five teams are tied for third at 64: George Downing-Kevin Marsh, Paul Smith-Tom Volz, John Pate-Steve Lass, Richard Irwin-Dan Carroll and Sean Bowman-Danny Carroll.
Pate-Lass, who are seeking their 12th title together, threw out three double bogeys in their round.
Marsh won the title in 2008 and the team of Bowman and Carroll were champions in 2005.
Al Geiberger Jr., the son of the PGA’s Mr. 59 and former Santa Barbara resident Al Geiberger, is in a three-way tie at 65. Geiberger is playing with Tyler Crawford of Mission HIlls CC. They are joined by Jim Vallone (Via Verde)-Paul Otte (Legends Jr. Golf Tour) and Valley Club’s Topper Owen and Eric Hall of Rancho San Marcos.
Recent high graduates and Division-1 college-bound golfers Niall Platt and Jack Perry shot a 66 in their Classic debut. Platt, of Laguna Blanca, is headed to Notre Dame, while Perry, a member of Santa Barbara’s CIF State championship team, is off to Northwestern.
The A Flight teams teed off at 7:30 a.m. and played in cool, misty conditions.
The A Flight begins its final round with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start on Sunday
Ian Selbie and Neal Steward of the Santa Barbara Men’s Golf Club shot a net 61 and hold a two shot lead over three teams in the B Flight. The second-place teams are Bob Fegley-Ed Sullivan of Valencia, Dan Dawson (SBMGC)-Steve Klock (La Purisima CC) and Nigel Copely-Robert Price of Montecito CC.
Two teams are tied for the lead in the C Flight at 60. Marty Lindusky, who is out here from Charleston National GC in South Carolina, and Robert Ziegler, from the Sony Pictures Golf Club, share the top spot with Frank Kerby of Avila Bay and Eddie Williams of Madera Municipal GC.
In the D Flight, Sherman Elrod (Rio Hondo CC) and Steve Theroux (Candlewood CC) shot a net 59 and hold a one-shot lead over Santa Barbara Men’s Club members Greg Bristol and Jeff Chaffin.
50TH ANNUAL SANTA BARBARA CLASSIC
At Santa Barbara Golf Club
A Flight scores
Albert Corral-Jesse Ferris, 60
Brandon Gama-Andrew Perez, 61
George Downing-Kevin Marsh, 64
Paul Smith-Tom Volz, 64
John Pate-Steve Lass, 64
Richard Irwin-Dan Carroll, 64
Sean Bowman-Danny Carroll, 64
Nathan Fox-Andrew Damron, 65
Jim Vallone-Paul Otte, 65
Tyler Crawford-Al Geiberger, Jr., 65
Topper Owen-Eric Hall, 66
Brian Lindly-David George, 66
Niall Platt-Jack Perry, 66
Gregory Snider-Jeff Greenfield, 67
Greg Wells-Brian Six, 67
Matt Free-Mike McCaskey, 67
Nick Telliard-Doug Green, 67
Michael Smith-Marvin Maruquin, 68
Jim Ream-Jim Ream, Sr., 69
Thorn Robertson-Mike Montgomery, 70
Modesto Diaz-Omar Diaz, 70
Brian Reed-Gavin Lee, 70
Ruben Carmona-Mike Madrigal, 70
Billy Mandarino-Mike Bowker, 72
